Mendota Dakota Community's Next Move is in Sight

The Mendota Mdewakanton Dakota have a plan for moving their out of the property at 1324 Sibley Memorial Highway and in to a property adjacent to the sacred restoration site.

What they don’t have, however, is a closing date for the property at 2095 Valencour Circle in Mendota Heights, or much more time to wait for one.

That means that the family of the community’s newly elected chairman, Jim Anderson, and all of the community center property still in the home, are facing eviction and must be out by June 1.

Anderson moved in to the Mendota property in February in an effort, he said, to bring publicity to its to next door. Now that the next move is in sight, he wants to stay put until the sale of the new location is complete.

Anderson said that they sent in a rent check for May, but it was returned with a message that eviction proceedings would begin.

The Mendota Dakota community considers the confluence of the Minnesota and Mississippi rivers as the birthplace of civilization, akin to the Garden of Eden, and has struggled to find a new home in the small town.

The Dakota community’s finances are limited by its lack of federal recognition and the loss of a 5-year, $60,000 Otto Bremer Foundation grant that once funded its activity. They have been struggling for over a year to pay the rent and utilities largely through dues and donations.

The owners of the property have reduced the rent and extended the lease a number of times in response to their situation. They could not be reached for an interview.

Now, a friend of the Mendota Dakota has offered to purchase the Valencour property, and provide a rent-to-own contract to the community center as a tenant.

Anderson said that this spiritual friend wants to remain anonymous until the sale goes through.

A number of legalities need to be sorted out before a closing can occur, said vice-chair Sharon Lennartson.

“It’s going to happen," said Lennartson. "But I don’t know how soon it’s going to happen. We may have to move elsewhere for a couple months.”

The property is listed as sold, contingent on an inspection, according to an MLS representative.

Anderson said the new location will welcome all people interested in Native American culture and spirituality and host expanded programming.

Once the sale of the Sibley Memorial building goes through, the home will be torn down and turned into additional parking for the restaurant.

Axel’s has been developing a stormwater management plan for the site, which wasn't ready yet at the Mendota City Council meeting May 10.

It's up in the air when a closing for the Sibley Memorial property would go through and construction would begin.

“The date we originally contemplated was June 1, but I don’t know if that’s plausible based on the spring we had,” said Dave Walia, VP of operations at Axel’s.