The Mandan Farmers Elevator is coming down, but it might take a little longer than originally expected.

John Boehm, representing Boehm Salvage, which is tearing down the elevator, asked the Mandan City Commission for a 30-day extension at Tuesday's commission meeting. Boehm's contract with the city calls for the demolition to be complete by Aug. 9.

Boehm said conflicts had developed with BNSF Railways, and work has to be shutdown for hours at a time when trains come through and have to be inspected. He added that the recent heat wave has slowed work.

"We should still be done by Aug. 9, but we'd like to have that cushion," Boehm said.

Meanwhile, the city is in negotiations with the Family Dollar Store, which would like to begin construction on the property as soon as possible. The company was the high bidder for the property.

City administrator Jim Neubauer told commissioners the city has until today to execute a letter of agreement with Family Dollar Store. But the city has yet to receive a required architectural rending of what the Family Dollar Store plans to construct on the property. The commission gave conditional approval to Family Dollar Store's purchase of the property last month.

Originally, the Family Dollar Store planned a 17,000-square-foot building that would house two businesses; its own store would occupy part of the structure, and the rest would be leased. But the latest news from the company, according to Neubauer, calls for three buildings, each approximately 8,000 to 9,000 square feet in size.

Commissioners agreed to give Boehm an extension until Aug. 15, at which time the commission will review the progress made on the demolition project and decide whether a further extension of the contract is necessary.

To view some online video of the demolition work at the Mandan elevator, go to http://www.bismarcktribune.com/series/drought2006/wreckingball1.mov.