Jill Schramm/MDN Roof work was ongoing on the Central parking ramp in downtown Minot in December. The roof work has since finished.

As a lawsuit slowly proceeds in court, Minot’s downtown parking ramps are getting into better shape.

“The cleaning and repair of the parking ramps is essentially done,” City Manager Tom Barry told the Minot City Council Monday. Lighting has been replaced and roofing on both structures is completed. Security cameras are being installed.

“The other thing we’re going to be working on is trying to figure out how to keep these pigeons out of these. These pigeons are creating problems for us, of course, on the cleanliness and just the annoyance standpoint,” Barry said.

Additionally, the Central structure has damage to the exterior finish, insulation system that must be repaired.

“That was due to the fact that these buildings have been without a roof. They’ve been exposed since they were constructed, so that’s damage that we’ve also added to our claim,” Barry said. “We began litigation on those structures back in March of 2018.”

The city found developer Cypress Development in default of its contract over the parking ramps and sued in North Central District Court for more than $3.5 million that it says was owing at that time for back rent and construction expenses. Cypress filed counterclaims with allegations that included misrepresentation and breach of contract.

Barry said attorneys are working through the 12,000 documents that have been part of that discovery phase and finalizing deposition dates. He noted a hearing could happen in September if not pushed back further.

“But there is certainly an enormous amount of work,” he said. “It is a slow process as the legal system tends to sort of be that way.”

Also in his report to the council, Barry offered the following highlights:

– Special city council meetings will be held Feb. 24 to discuss the National Disaster Resilience Program projects and March 9 to tour the M Building and Wells Fargo buildings being considered for a new city hall.

– The Minot Landfill took in 71 tons of waste during free dumping week Dec. 23 to Jan. 4. That is up 47% from 48 tons during free dumping week a year ago. The next free event will be in early May.

– Minot’s State of the City address from Mayor Shaun Sipma will be today at 5:30 p.m. at Magic City Campus. The event begins with an open house starting at 4:45 p.m. and concludes with a social hour and refreshments.