Falling bricks result in penalty for owner
Moving vehicle was nearly hit in 2025 incident
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A Fort Dodge woman had a close call about a year ago when bricks fell from a First Avenue South building just seconds after she drove past it.
This week, a magistrate ordered the owner of the building at 1520 First Ave. S. to pay a $750 civil penalty plus court costs for violating the city's Property Maintenance Code.
Magistrate Brandy R. Lundy also ordered Frank Hurdle, of Holly Springs, Mississippi, to complete all needed repairs by Sept. 28. If that is not done, the city government is authorized to correct the Property Maintenance Code violations and assess the costs to Hurdle's property taxes.
Hurdle was not present at Wednesday’s hearing.
A section of brick and masonry near the top of the five-story building tumbled down at about 11:40 a.m. Nov. 22, 2025.
The debris fell into the road second after a westbound vehicle driven by Ellen Tasler, of Fort Dodge, passed that spot. She was not hurt and her vehicle was not damaged.
"She was far enough ahead that nothing happened," her husband, William Tasler, said on Nov. 24, 2025.
Firefighters in the nearby fire station could feel the ground shake when the bricks hit the ground. They were almost immediately on the scene with police officers and blocked the road with their vehicles.
Right after the collapse, First Avenue South was closed between 15th and 16th streets. Also, 16th Street between Central Avenue and First Avenue South was closed.
The city government hired Jensen Builders Ltd, of Fort Dodge, to remove anything from the building that was likely to fall down. City Manager David Fierke said Hurdle paid the city about $7,500 for that work.
A crew from Jensen Builders Ltd. was back at the building about a week ago to remove more bricks and masonry.
"We are going to keep watching it because we know there is a danger of bricks falling," Fierke said.
The city staff is preparing a plan for dealing with abandoned buildings that will be presented to Mayor Dave Flattery and the City Council this fall.
"That building is high on the list to come down," Fierke said.
The building was constructed in 1914, according to the online records of the Webster County Assessor's Office. It is apparently empty.