In the comments from the audience portion of the Hastings City Council meeting, Aaron Dean, a construction
attorney, represented 3D LLC, proprietors of the Hastings Creamery. Dean addressed a resolution set in the agenda for the community development portion of the meeting. The resolution is an order to demolish and remove the hazardous creamery building, located at 1701 Vermillion Street.
Dean shared that clean-up is dependent on the weather, and temps need to be above 40 degrees. The plan is to begin clean-up of the creamery in April, with hopes of being finished by the city’s deadline of June 15th. Dean contested the resolution, pointing out that unexpected things, like asbestos, can cause delays during the demolition, moving the clean-up process past the June 15th deadline.
During community development, city attorney Cynthia Kirchoff presented the request to approve the resolution to demolish and remove the hazardous building. Kirchoff displayed evidence of the current state of the fire-damaged creamery. A fire in September 2023 caused damage to the creamery. The city attorney pointed out that, since the fire, the site has remained unclean and unsecured. Through 2024 and 2025, Hastings City staff have repeated inspections, compliance letters, and contacted 3D LLC, but no meaningful action by the owner has been taken to remedy the current state of the creamery.
Councilmember DawnMarie Vihrachoff addressed the creamery’s representative, Aaron Dean, before stating the reason why the council couldn’t delay the resolution.
KDWA will have more coverage of the Hastings City Council meeting in future broadcasts.