DND of Dalton provides various customer services

By Tom Hintgen (Contact) | The Daily Journal

Published Tuesday, August 12, 2008

No day is the same for Nolan and Delores Moebius who, since 1986, have operated DND Construction.

Located just south of Dalton along Highway 35, DND Construction assists customers with landscaping, sewer work, driveways, rip rap on lakes, decorative road work and grubbing (tree stump removal), to name a few.

Much of the rip rap is done during the winter months.

“You can do some of the rip rap during the summer, but it’s also convenient to work on the ice during the winter months,” Nolan said.

Delores quickly added that the ice needs to be thick, in order to withstand the equipment needed for rip rap.

“It’s a small window of opportunity using the ice, during the winter,” she said. “People think we have a lot of time for rip rap work during the winter months, but we don’t. Conditions with the ice have to be just right.”

The Moebius business has two employees, in addition to the work done by Nolan and Delores.

“Oftentimes,” said Nolan, “it’s not unusual to perform two or three projects for the same customer. One homeowner may need sewer work, landscaping and basement work all at the same time.”

Demolition of old houses and other structures also is a part of DND Construction of Dalton. The actual demolition is only part of what’s involved with this ongoing service to customers. DND and other similar businesses need to work with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MnPCA) and other agencies.

On Aug. 7 Nolan attended a demolition waste landfill operational issues workshop at Henning, presented by the MnPCA. Assisting with the workshop was Mike Hanan, Otter Tail County solid waste director.

Moebius was in the dairy business for 16 years, starting in 1970, and before that he worked in construction. In 1986, when he sold the dairy herd, he decided the time was right in getting back into construction.

“The toughest work is building a driveway on a hill,” he said.

He takes pride in his work, including doing all of the rock work and water work for the nearby Stalker Lake Golf Course. He’s also done rip rap at area lakes such as Pebble Lake, Jewett Lake and Ten Mile Lake.

They have one semi truck at DND, two gravel trucks, two skid steers and an excavator, loader and dozer.

“Before you can turn a wheel you have to make sure you have the correct truck inspections, insurance, permits, licenses and you name it all in order,” Nolan said. “Once we’re ready to roll, we work in a tri-state area of Minnesota and the two Dakotas.”

DND of Dalton has a good track record with work along interstate highways, including guard rail and dirt work.

At 67, Nolan says he plans to keep going with the business. He enjoys what he’s doing.

“The only down side,” he said, “is that Delores and I hardly get to spend time away, especially during the summer months. However, we are planning to take our camper to Alberta, Canada.”

The couple has six children and nine grandchildren.

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