City discusses problem properties

Reviews code violation process

[July 07, 2008]  At the last council meeting, city of Lincoln officials began a discussion of unkempt properties and code enforcement. Ordinance chairman Wanda Lee Rohlfs said that she met with Les Last, the city code enforcement officer, after a list of property maintenance issues was recently brought forth.

Rohlfs felt that it important for the public to understand the process involved and how the city handles these complaints. She said, "I'd like to get the word out:

• "This is what City Hall does.

• "This is what our code enforcement officer does, and has done,

• "And what process happens thereafter."

Rohlfs announced that she would prefer to hold off full discussion of the matter until Last could be present and when the council meeting would have additional media coverage via TV. The first and third Monday business meetings are regularly televised.

During the preliminary comments she said that the process involves the code enforcement officer and often city attorney Bill Bates. It begins with a complaint being filed at City Hall. Last goes out to verify the complaint. He then sends a notification letter to the property owner. He has a file folder full of complaints, Rohlfs said.

If the property owner is not responsive or compliant, then the city attorney becomes involved.

Bates said that Last tries working with a property owner, but if sufficient progress is not being made, then it comes to him. He begins in the same place, with letters sent to the property owner requesting a response.

His goals are to:

• Get property cleaned up or problem corrected.

• Assess and collect a monetary fine and court costs.

There have been 388 code violations filed since 2002. Many are ongoing problem areas located mostly in one section of town, some on Elm, Short Eighth and College streets.

There are a lot of complaints filed with Last's office, Bates said. Most of these have been vehicle, trash, weeds and junk, Bates said. He said that he works with Last on them, and together they try to get something done on the more serious ones.

Those that are unresponsive or too slow enter the legal process, which is time-consuming and costly for the city.

"The whole process is compounded when you go to abandoned and dangerous buildings. And that is flat economics," Bates said. First, there are significant court costs, and then, "if you win, you have just won the opportunity to pay all expenses for the demolition of the property, and then further court costs for foreclosure on the lien." He recalled the grass lot that the city still owns at the southwest corner of Kickapoo and Pekin streets. "The city spent $100,000 to demolish the Miller building," he said.

Continuation of that discussion is anticipated Monday evening.

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