—Daily Freeman-Journal photo by Adri Sietstra Karen Camp is pictured above Monday evening at the City Council meeting. Camp came to the meeting to voice her concerns over a nuisance property in town. Ken Graham also expressed his concerns with another nuisance property in town to the council.

Two Webster City residents voiced their concerns about nuisance properties at Monday night’s city council meeting.

Ken Graham and Karen Camp both expressed their displeasure with neighboring residential properties who have failed to follow city ordinances.

Graham noted a house on Elm Street that, according to him, has had problems in the past staying within ordinance.

“There is a little house behind me on Elm Street that you all have been working on, but apparently you haven’t been working hard enough,” Graham said. “He was instructed to take down the vines and trees and whatever and his idea of taking them down was cutting them partially down and then leaving them lay in the lawn.”

Graham also said that the owner failed to clear his sidewalk throughout the snowfall this winter season.

“He hasn’t shoveled his walk since we started winter,” said Graham. “I do a lot of walking around the neighborhood and my question is if we have a city ordinance that says you have to shovel your walk within 24 hours, why don’t we enforce it? If I fall down and break my leg, does that mean I can sue the city for not enforcing their law?”

“Obviously he is on our radar,” said mayor John Hawkins. “We’re still limited to what our ordinance allows us to do.”

“I appreciate you coming in and sharing that,” said councilman Logan Welch. “The nuisance property’s neighbor to the east has also been making the city aware of this situation. I personally went out and spoke to her the other day.”

Welch also brought up the possibility of making this one of the topics at the next town hall meeting.

“I greatly appreciate you coming. I don’t want you to think it’s lack of effort. Unfortunately, it’s restrictions within our own ordinance,” Welch said.

“We appreciate you coming in,” said Hawkins.

City attorney Zach Chizek explained to Graham where the city was at with this owner and property.

“We were just recently on that property and they gave them until April 15 to clean up the mess,” Chizek said. “Our hands are tied again until April 15 to do anything … he gets fined, but at the end of the day whether they pay it or not is out of our hands.”

“I think we have to revisit the snow ordinance because of the fact that there is a hazard involved,” Chizek said.

Camp voiced a complaint concerning a residence on Division Street.

“I’ve been here and talked to you people for three years about that property,” Camp said.

Camp mentioned a broken door at the property that caused loud noises that disturbed her and her pets, broken stairs, and a yard that is never mowed by the owner. She also mentioned the owner’s prior tree removal damaged her grape vines along her fence line.

“I’m absolutely furious about this,” Camp said. “He never mows, doesn’t move snow. Surely you can do something about this guy.”

Hawkins explained that they were doing everything they could do within ordinance. He also explained that once April 15 is here, they can take the next course of action.

“I value your input greatly,” Welch said. “I know you’re frustrated. There’s nothing we can really do today for you. Please be assured that this is something we will look into.”

“This isn’t a new issue,” Chizek said. “We’re only able to work within the perimeters of the system. It’s frustrating … we have to take a hard look at this.”

“Part of the problem is the system we’re following is what the state allows. We’re limited by what state statute allows us to do,” said Webster City City Manager Daniel Ortiz-Hernandez. “Our hands are tied by what the state allows and doesn’t allow us to do.”

“I think we need to look at what we are allowed to do and take every liberty to do those things we can to shorten those time frames up,” said councilman Matt McKinney.

Hearings held

A public hearing was on the Lyons Creek Pedestrian Bridge and Sidewalk Extensions Project. There were no written or oral objections.

The council confirmed plans, specifications, and form of contract and the estimate of cost the project.

Bids for the project were received from Jensen Builders, Fort Dodge, RW Excavating & Dozing, Prairie City, Howrey Construction, Rockwell City, and Shekar Engineering, Des Moines, with Wick’s Construction of Decorah turning in the low bid of $557,761.21.The council awarded the contract to Wicks Construction

According to a memo from Matt Alcazar, Engineering Tech/Project Coordinator, to the council and city manager, this project will be funded through the bonding established last year in the amount of $323,100 and the Road Use Tax Fund in the amount of $329,500. The engineers estimated the cost for this project to be $652,600.

A public hearing was held the James Street Roadway Reconstruction Project.

The council approved the plans, specifications, and form of contract and estimate of cost for the project and awarded the contract to Wicks Construction.

The council approved a resolution setting a time and place for a public hearing concerning the proposed sale of a portion of city-owned property located in Lot 1, Wall Creek Addition, in Webster City. The public hearing will be held Monday, Feb. 20 at 5:45 p.m.

A resolution authorizing the mayor and city clerk to enter into an (on call) Street Paving Specialist Engineering Agreement with Snyder & Associates, Inc. of Ankeny, for engineering services was approved.