Nuisance reviews back on track in city; trees up first

    Fifty-two letters were mailed to Imperial residents in late 2019 when dead trees were identified on their properties by the city’s nuisance officer.
    After a year without any nuisance review or action due to COVID, city officials are ready to get back on track, and trees will get the first look.
    CJ Poltack with West Central Nebraska Development District (WCNDD), which serves as the city’s nuisance officer, told council members Monday the review of trees will start May 4.
    Poltack believes some of the property owners who received letters about the trees have removed them already. However, all 52 properties identified in the letters sent in October 2019 will be reviewed, she said, along with the entire community for tree conditions.
    She believes less than what was hoped to be taken care of will have happened the past year. By May 1, she was hopeful that just 25% would be left to follow up on, but doubted that would be met here.
    She reminded council members if a property is identified with a dead tree and the time period expires for removal after due process, the city has the option to remove it at the property owner’s cost.
    While trees will be the immediate focus area for nuisance officers, the council also discussed other specific areas in town to be reviewed for general nuisance code issues.
    No action resulted from Monday’s discussion on which areas will be reviewed this year, but council members have their eyes on Section 3, in northeast Imperial, as it’s one that hasn’t been looked at for awhile.
    Sections 1 and 2 on the northeast edge were also discussed as areas to target this year.
    Council member Doug Gaswick said areas 1, 2 and 3 are among the oldest for a review.
    “Since we are behind this year (due to the break during COVID), I’m for doing some extra,” he said.
    Cost is an issue, however. The city budgeted $20,000 for nuisance costs this year, said Clerk/Administrator Jo Leyland.
    Poltack listed the costs for each section discussed: #1 is $11,314, #2 is $9,282, while #3 would cost $6,039. She noted there would be some deductions for the dead trees already identified in those areas, and for which letters were already sent.
    There is a 10% discount on cost if some of the reports on nuisance properties can be given via Zoom, she said.
    Poltack noted that Imperial is the only community they serve as nuisance officer that sends two letters to property owners regarding code violations—the first is a courtesy notice; the second is sent by registered mail. That adds cost to Imperial’s program, she said, and also extends the time for cleanup to happen in many cases.
    While Poltack pointed out one letter to owners would save some money, council members like the idea of giving property owners more time to comply.
    “I’m not in favor of going to one letter only,” said Council President Charlesa Kline.
    The two-letter system is also favored by Mayor Dwight Coleman.
    Poltack noted most of what comes up in nuisance code violations deal with unlicensed vehicles, stacked car parts in yards, trash, old appliances, pallets and tires.
    At the council’s next meeting May 3, a decision will be made on which sections of town will be reviewed for nuisances.
    Poltack said they’d like to get started on the general reviews as soon as possible, which they hope to wrap up by Oct. 31.
    Poltack introduced Heather Carr, who was also at Monday’s meeting. Carr will be handling Imperial’s nuisance code reviews after Poltack’s retirement.

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