Expert: Hampton band shell could collapse

HAMPTON, Iowa (AP) - An Iowa structural engineer says the band shell in Hampton will likely collapse.

The Hampton City Council closed the band shell in March after an analysis found it needed to be stabilized. On Tuesday, Ames structural engineer Bill Bossenberger told the city council that the band shell is "totally unsafe" and that he doesn't know when it will collapse, "but it will happen."

Bossenberger says everything above the band shell floor will have to be removed to fix it. The band shell was built in 1958 and its closing has affected community events.

The city council decided to send the matter to its Public Assets Committee and Finance and Personnel Committee to research options and report back.

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Information from: Globe Gazette, http://www.globegazette.com/

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.