Caution urged on nuisance properties

HUMBOLDT — City Attorney Fred Works urged Humboldt councilmen Monday night to soft-pedal plans to require two property owners to repair roofs and one to paint his house.
While the roofs don’t appear to be in the best of condition, nor do they have holes, which prompted Works to question the city’s right to require replacement. Same with peeling paint from one of the structures.
“Those are a gray area,” he said, noting that the city’s test on structural repairs should be whether conditions affect the livability of a house.
Livability includes such things as a working toilet, plumbing that functions and the structure being secure enough so rain doesn’t pour in and rodents and other creatures don’t have access.
A council member wondered if a dilapidated but livable home didn’t’ affect property values in a neighborhood.
Works said that can’t be a consideration, that each person has the right for individual standards.
Junk and debris, including inoperable vehicles, in the yard are another matter.
Works said the city could require such things to be removed, although care should be taken if the city crew did the removing to make sure a “valuable antique” wasn’t hauled to the landfill.
Conclusions were:
— The owner, Mike Dillon, and renter of a property at 617 N. Sixth St. would be given more time to clean up outdoor, but roof repairs are off the table.
— Concerns about paint, roof and porch at 919 Cherokee, owned by Roy and Tracy Fritch and vacant, would be considered later. The house has utilities connected and may be occupied soon.
— John Naff, who owns 1001 S. 10th St., will be cited into Municipal Court for “excessive junk in the yard.” He was sent a letter in August and little cleanup has occurred.

COUNCIL members agreed to purchase one of three fire hydrants that will be situated on property owned by USD 258 at the east edge of town, the site of a new sports complex.
The city will pay $1,735 for a hydrant to be installed along Georgia Road at the north edge of the property and near an access road. Two other hydrants, the responsibility of the school district, will be near a parking lot and among structures of the complex.
Kent Barfoot, chief of Humboldt volunteer fire department, said putting the hydrants about 1,500 feet apart and having three of them would satisfy state fire codes.
Three agenda items — a contract with the Allen County Animal Rescue Facility, setting fees for delinquent utilities and a job description for a part-time utility and court clerk — were tabled until the council’s Dec. 10 meeting.
Councilmen did approve closing Seventh Street between Ohio and Leavenworth streets in the south part of town. That stretch of Seventh Street had never been developed. The strip of property will revert half each to Clint and Doris Johns and the Humboldt Housing Authority.
The Johnses had asked for the vacation. They intend to build a fence.

LARRY TUCKER, city administrator, said a conversation on housing two weeks ago was lightly attended, but “we got a lot of comments.”
A goal, he said, is to create opportunities for development of private housing. A survey of 190 people who work in Humboldt but live elsewhere found 67 families would be willing to move to town if affordable housing were available.
He said the storm and fire alert siren in Cannon Park had been moved from its original 50-foot pole to one 70 feet tall and was better heard throughout the city. It and one in the south part of town are tested at noon on Mondays and Fridays.
Downtown Christmas lights will be turned on at 6 p.m. Monday at the bandstand. Mayor Nobby Davis will do the honors, with music and refreshments a part of the ceremony.