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McCook Gazette

City taking property owner to District Court

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

The City of McCook will file a petition in District Court to legally remove nuisances on property at 305 East 12.

The McCook City Council unanimously approved the petition Monday night at the regular council meeting. City Attorney Nate Schneider noted that it would be a 30-day process and if during that time the property owner removes abandoned structures the McCook Health Department has identified as a nuisance, the city could settle the case and have it dismissed.

Before the vote, Schneider and McCook Police Chief Ike Brown told the council that there have been no visible changes in the condition of the property.

Property owner Dotti Park, who does not live at the residence, attended the meeting and said latest attempts to line someone up to remove the mobile home and tear down the abandoned house and garage have been unsuccessful.

The council had been working with the owner to clean up the property since about September. The McCook Health Board determined in August that due to neglect, the property was uninhabitable under city ordinances and had become a health and safety hazard.

In other action, Councilman Lonnie Anderson had a question concerning the engineering agreement on the consent agenda and pulled the item for discussion.

The agreement is with Miller and Associates for the design and construction inspection for improvements scheduled at the Karrer Park lift station.

The design fee is $5,300 and the construction inspection not to exceed $4,000, for a total of $9,300.

Councilman Anderson asked if the inspection is to see if the job is completed satisfactorily and Chris Miller of Miller and Associates confirmed that it was. The design phase could start early this summer, said Utility Director Jesse Dutcher.

The project, budgeted for this year, will upgrade a six-inch sewer main that delivers sewage from the Karrer Park lift station to another main on East 13, near A Street.

The Karrer Park lift station pumps sewage collected by the Kelley Creek trunk line, which serves the north, northwest and parts of east McCook.

The council unanimously approved authorizing the city manager to sign the engineering contract.

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  • Wouldn't the city benefit from hiring a full time engineer for the city instead of spending all the funds to a engineering firm??? That would make more sense than all the spending they are doing.

    This city should have all the information on how the construction should be done and all the information on what the inspections should be. There needs to be some cutting of costs somewhere. Let's start here.

    -- Posted by edbru on Sat, Feb 20, 2010, at 11:08 AM

  • I doubt a full time employee would cost less.

    -- Posted by Chaco1 on Sun, Feb 21, 2010, at 11:33 AM

  • Chaco1..... Wonder how much the city spends each year on an engineering service? I know it is a good figure, but I haven't got all the facts as to how much. Time to do some digging into the rockpile.

    I hope the city doesn't fool around with this property like some of the others. If the owner doesn't get things done in time alotted, then get the machinery and clean up the property.

    -- Posted by edbru on Sun, Feb 21, 2010, at 8:44 PM
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