Rundown houses to get cleanup break?

Saturday, March 17, 2007

Owners of dilapidated or abandoned housing will get a break from the city if they tear down their structures, under a proposed ordinance that will come before the McCook City Council at a regular meeting Monday night, 7:30 at City Council Chambers.

Currently the city has no funding for demolishing housing that is substandard or abandoned. City officials believe this ordinance would give property owners an incentive to take advantage of the reduced fees in order to clear up some blighted dwellings.

If approved by the City Council after three readings, property owners of abandoned or run-down houses would have their fees reduced at the Transfer Station when disposing of household refuse.

Owners would receive a 30 percent reduction in transfer station fees, if they apply in writing to the City Building inspector at least 14 days prior to demolition and establish that the structure has been abandoned for at least 12 months prior to the application, as evidenced by utility records. Other qualifications include: removing all hazardous material, such as asbestos; the house is deemed is so old or beyond repair as to be dangerous or unfit for habitation and that it would be unreasonable to repair the structure; homeowners insurance would not cover disposal fees; and that the owner has obtained a permit authorizing the demolition for the city.

A complete waiver of fees would be allowed for housing purchased by first-time home owners under the McCook Economic Development Corp. program "Purchase Rehab Resell." The fees would be paid using funds provided by the Nebraska Department of Economic Development.

Transfer Station fees for household materials are $.027340 per pound, $54.68 per ton with a minimum charge of $5.

City Manager Kurt Fritsch said there are about six structures in the community that would qualify immediately for this program and another six that are coming close to doing so.

This ordinance joins three other regular agenda items. Other items include continued discussion of the one-cent sales tax, what direction city staff should take about the lack of bids concerning the concession stand at the Jaycee Ball Complex and selecting a date for new council members to tour city facilities.

The City Council will be asked to approve advertising town hall meetings at the Senior Center in April, for feedback from the public concerning the one-cent city sales tax. Council members expressed their desire to get community input on the sales tax, which sunsets in 2008, at the March 5 council meeting.

The town hall meetings also will address what kinds of projects the public would like the city to undertake in support of the one-cent tax.

Council also will consider how to continue the concession stand at the Jaycee Ball complex, as no bids were received to operate the concession stand.

City staff felt that one of the reasons for the lack of interest is that activity at the ball complex has increased dramatically over the past few years. What used to be a summer-time job has evolved into a commitment that begins in February and does not end until October.

On the consent agenda, council members will be asked to approve:

* a Telecommunications Site Lease Agreement between the city and USCOC Nebraska/Kansas LLC ( US Cellular), to allow US Cellular to place telecommunication equipment on the west water tower for $1,400 per month.

* a stop sign at the intersection of Washington Street and West Third, because of concerns raised recently by residents about potential accidents from traffic off Washington street;

* award the bid for the Felling Field concession stand to the Lyster family for $700 per year.

A public hearing is also slated for the meeting, where the city council will decided whether to approve the request by Tri State Livestock to re-zone property near their sale barn from Industrial Light to Industrial Heavy. Tri State, who owns the property, requested the change in zoning in order utilize part of the property as a parking lot to ease traffic congestion on sale days. The McCook Planning Commission recommended approval at its March 12th meeting.

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