The Iola City Council will deliberate on four resolutions concerning the removal of dangerous or unsafe structures at its meeting Monday. Identified by the city’s code enforcement staff, these structures, in accordance with the Unified Development Code, present significant risks to both inhabitants and the surrounding community.
The four houses under scrutiny are:
116 N. Fourth: A two-bedroom, single-story house, without utilities since August 2016. Structural issues include collapsed floor joists, deteriorating walls, and foundation problems, allowing animal access beneath the house.
306 S. Kentucky: A two-bedroom, single-story house, without utilities since December 2021. The structure faces collapsed floor joists, deteriorated walls, and foundation issues, exacerbated by tree roots.
602 E. Lincoln: A three-bedroom, single-story house, without utilities since February 2022. Complaints about the property include poor exterior conditions, a leaking roof causing interior damage, and foundation issues.
1014 N. Sycamore: A two-bedroom, two-story house, without utilities since September 2015. Structural problems include a hole in the roof, causing water damage, as well as deteriorating window frames and siding.
All four structures require repairs that exceed 50 percent of their county property values. City staff seeks approval to begin the condemnation process, intending to set public hearings on Feb. 26, through individual resolutions for each location.
IN OTHER NEWS, the council will consider:
Council president selection: Council members will appoint a president who assumes the mayoral role in the mayor’s absence.
City flag designs: Following the presentation of proposed city flag options in December, the council will review and confirm final designs. The Clock Tower and Land & Water flags are among the options to be considered. Once the final designs are chosen, staff will develop and place it on the city’s website, Facebook page, and have a manual voting box option for the public to vote on the flag.
Resolution 2024-01: The council will deliberate on a resolution supporting Iola CITF/Pride’s official entry into the Kansas Community Empowerment (KCE) program administered by the Kansas Department of Commerce and K-State Research and Extension. The resolution is proposed to be valid for three program years, from 2024 through 2026.
