Properties get clean-up notices

    After the recent review of properties in three sections of Imperial’s north and northeast areas, city council members received a lengthy report on nuisances at their meeting Monday.
    Amy Sauer of West Central Nebraska Development District, the city’s nuisance officer, said the review yielded 127 courtesy letters to property owners this month.
    Of that group, 68 were cleared, 21 property owners received extensions and 25 will receive a second courtesy letter to be sent certified mail, she said.
    After her recommendation, 13 other properties were declared nuisances in a 4-0 council vote at the meeting.
    The  nuisance properties are located at 1333 Grant, 340 West 14th St., 1343 Douglas, 1520 Court, 121 East 18th St., 231 East 18th St., 405 East 17th St., 231 East 16th St., 1430 Wellington, 205 East 15th St., 1414 Park, 1005 Chase and 1029 Wellington.
    She said issues with the properties included unlicensed vehicles, scrap wood and metal in yards, dead or dying trees, piled trash, auto parts, old tires and an unsecured building. Some of the property owners had removed some nuisance items, but others remained, she noted.
    Sauer also updated the council on the separate review of trees in Imperial that took place before the general nuisance review.
    From that review, Sauer recommended two properties be abated of the trees at 73893 332 Avenue and 395 East South St. The council voted 4-0 to do so.
    She said a vote to abate means the council “is getting serious” about the issue, but the property owners are given more time to comply.
    Sauer said they are moving forward on two other properties with five-day notices to have the trees removed at the owner’s expense. The two properties, earlier voted by the council to abate, are at 336 West 15th St. and 1535 Douglas.
    Three other properties were removed from the nuisance list. Two were parcels of land without an address and the other is at 921 Broadway.
    In other business, the council closed streets along Wellington (6th to 8th Sts.) and the half blocks off Wellington on both sides of 7th Street for the fair car show Aug. 14.
    New wood flooring will be going down at the Imperial Manor after the council approval of the $14,969.99 Home Decor estimate.
    Roxane Miller, new employee in the city office, was approved as a signatory on city bank accounts. She will replace Tami Ekart, who is retiring.
    A wage ordinance was approved adding police officer Chris Bustillos at $50,000 annually and public works employee Troy Hoskovec at $17 per hour.
    The city’s wage ordinance also updated Margie Haider’s salary for the $5,000 increase approved by the senior services board last month.
    As Director of Nursing at the senior care facilities,  Haider’s salary increased from $120,750 to $125,750.
    Council President Charlesa Kline conducted Monday’s meeting in the absence of Mayor Dwight Coleman.
Council meets police
officer’s K9 partner
    At the start of Monday’s meeting, the council met Jago, the K9 partner of newly-hired police officer Chris Bustillos.
    Bustillos gave a short demonstration on Jago’s capabilities after hiding two stickers in the meeting room that had been placed in a marijuana evidence bag.
    Jago quickly found both when given the command.
    The new officer said once he is certified in Nebraska after four weeks at the Law Enforcement Training Center during September until early October, Jago can go into service. He jokingly noted his K9 partner thinks he’s on vacation right now.
    Bustillos’ commands to Jago are given in German.
    Chief Ryan Wisnieski said the Imperial police office is now equipped with a dog bed and water dish. They are planning to get Bustillos’ police car equipped with Jago’s carrier.
    Wisnieski said administration at Chase County Schools is also happy to see the K9 partner in the community.
    Bustillos said he has received a warm welcome since joining the force July 13.