HUMBOLDT — “We are not your driveway,” is Humboldt’s message to those who park their oversized vehicles along the city’s streets, said Mayor Nobby Davis.
Humboldt Council members unanimously agreed to create an ordinance that forbids parking semi-trucks, fifth-wheel trailers, recreation vehicles, farm implements and other large vehicles along city streets for long periods of time.
Council members acted on the advice of the Council’s Street Committee, which met recently to discuss the contentious matter.
Council member Blake McDaniels said it was the committee’s conclusion the large rigs are “detrimental to the longevity of city streets and the safety of our people.”
Davis was blunter, saying, “Who wants to look at the side of a semi parked out front of their house all day?”
The ordinance will provide for short-term parking in order for deliveries to be made as well as variances when requested.
POLICE CHIEF Shannon Moore gave a report on code enforcement violations for the month of May. Of those, 33 were for households whose yards need mowing or whose properties pose a nuisance by being littered with junked vehicles, dilapidated buildings or the like. Of those 33 reported — “and we’re writing new citations every day,” said Moore — 17 have addressed the issue.
The city has recently mowed the lawns of 10 abandoned properties. The city charges $150 for each time it mows a property. The fee is put on the homeowner’s property taxes.
Herder noted Allen County’s recent auction for delinquent taxes on properties helps alleviate the number of abandoned homes.
“If we could get the county to do these sales every year it would allow for a more efficient transfer of these properties,” he said. The last sale was six years ago, in part due to the 2020-2021 pandemic.
The first warning to homeowners that they are in violation is a notation. If that is ignored, the city sends a citation that includes a fine of up to $100 a day and an order to appear before Municipal Court Judge Patricia Boyd.
It’s a time-consuming — and expensive — process for Sheri Modlin, who serves as the city’s code enforcement officer. Each citation costs $8.34 to send by registered mail.
“Sheri’s tried hanging notices on their front doors and even visiting the residents directly,” to avoid the expense, said Moore. “But she gets no response.”
City Administrator Cole Herder said he had asked Moore and Modlin to “get more aggressive” about these issues.
“We’ve been too relaxed,” he said.
