9:55 a.m. - It wasn't all that many years ago when a spring day like today would have been busy as all get-out at the Carson elevators.

Now, the elevators are empty except for the flush of pigeons and the scurrying of rodents. Custer District Health Unit has condemned the once-thriving center of local agriculture for heath and safety reasons.

The two elevator annexes were built in the '50s and remained in operation until a ferocious bow echo wind tore through in 1996.

The elevators are visually unique because they're covered in pressed tin and for all these years, have served as shining landmarks at the south side entrance to Carson.

The previous owners were Southwest Grain and the company let the property go into county ownership for unpaid taxes after the windstorm.

That means the problem of how to demolish the structures belongs to the Grant County Commission.

The commission is looking at three options and will decide in May which to pick.

Two of the options involve burning the elevators and inviting area fire departments to assist as a training exercise.

Commissioner Dan Stewart said one of the options is to first hire a salvage company that would tear off the tin and remove all the metal for scrap iron, before pushing the wooden frames into a pile for burning.

The tin might have some collector value, but Stewart said it was nailed to the buildings with two semi loads of nails.

A second option is to hire a fire demolition company and burn the elevators as they stand now. The heat of the fire would be enough to destroy most of the tin and the fire remains would be hauled off.

If either of those options is picked, the fire would be timed for a wetter time of year, next fall or the following spring, and when wind and temperature conditions are right.

Stewart said the county's been assured the fire wouldn't imperil any nearby property and that all the necessary precautions will be taken.

"We know you don't just throw a match in those big elevators and burn them down," he said.

Carson and the commission had a public meeting on the topic and many from the community attended.

He said most people favor getting the buildings out of there, but want to be sure no other property would be endangered in the process.

A third option would be to hire someone to tip the buildings over and haul the rubble away for burning elsewhere.

"The bottom line is those buildings are a hazard to the community," Stewart said.

Carson Mayor Donna Vandenburg said the town and county are cooperating on the project, but in the end the buildings belong to the county and any decision is theirs.

She said the building is a safety concern, but the county has ensured any openings are sealed so people don't get inside.

Custer District Health had set a year-end deadline for the county to come up with a plan. Stewart said the health agency is willing to wait for the county to come up with the right option.

(Reach reporter Lauren Donovan at 1-888-303-5511, or lauren@westriv.com.)