The Tucumcari City Commission on Thursday has asked the city manager to explore ways and costs that the Sands Dorsey could be partially demolished.

Businesswoman Ruth Nelson said it had been two years, and nothing had been done to make the alley accessible for her business or others on the block.

Nelson’s Pajarito Interiors is next to the Sands Dorsey building which burned in June 2007.

“If you block the  the alley, you should also block Main and south Second streets,” Nelson said.

Main and Second streets should also be closed to traffic because the burned walls of  the Sands Dorsey building walls could be a hazard if the walls tumbled on those streets, Nelson said.

City Manager Bobbye Rose said she would investigate the costs of partially tearing down the building to allow businesses access to the alley.

Rose said the engineers have told the city said that it  is not a question of: will the walls collapse, but when.

In other business at the meeting, the commission approved the second of three readings in preparation for raising water rates by 8 percent.