Council ponders area for ‘23 nuisance code review

    A residential area in Imperial and all three trailer courts in the city will be reviewed this year for nuisance code violations.
    At the March 20 meeting, the city council pondered areas for the review to be conducted by the city’s nuisance officer, West Central Nebraska Development District.
    Amber Kuskie, WCNDD executive director, was at the meeting to discuss the review as well as the current situation for Imperial’s program.
    Reviews will begin in early April and continue through the end of October.
    Last week’s meeting did not yield the specific area for review. Kuskie said she is revising the city map to better define sections of the city.
     However, council members and the mayor want all three trailer courts reviewed, along with the yet to-be-named residential area. No business properties will be reviewed, according to the discussion.
    Costs to do the review will also be considered.
    Kuskie said she plans to have the new map ready for council review at the April 3 meeting.
    In 2022, 48 of the 52 properties that were identified in Imperial with nuisances took care of the issues, Kuskie said, for a clearance rate of 92%. The work in 2022 cost $15,000.
    Of those four still in the program, she said two are working to get them cleared.
    Imperial has had a nuisance program since 2007. Kuskie said WCNDD remains impartial in its reviews since its staff does not know who lives where.
    All of their reviews are from vehicles, and they do not trespass on individual properties, she said.
    If a property is believed to have a nuisance after WCNDD review, owners receive a letter. A second letter by certified mail then goes out if there is no response after 30 days to the first letter, she said.
    “Imperial is the only community that asks us to send two letters initially,” Kuskie said.
    That’s among the 19 communities they work with on nuisance programs.
    The two-letter contact in Imperial came about on a request from former Mayor Dwight Coleman several years ago.
    The process continues with several 30-day timelines set as attempts are made to clear the property, she said.
    Kuskie said they always try to work with the property owner. Communication is important, she added.
    If there is no action, the property owner could reach the abatement process, which means the nuisance will be cleared by the city or a subcontractor, at the owner’s expense.
    Currently there are two liens on Imperial properties for that reason.
    The program was established, she said, to foster local pride in the community’s appearance.
    Erica Greene recognized the efforts by some local groups who get out and help clean up some of the nuisance properties as a way of helping residents who can’t afford tree removal, as an example.
    “I feel that you care. If people could see you (council and mayor) out there once in awhile helping, that would help,” she said.
    On a question from office employee Lili Marquez, Kuskie said that some of the nuisance notices along the way are in Spanish.
Cornerstone residential lot
    Ryan Baker met with the mayor and council regarding the delay he said he’s experienced in purchasing a residential lot in the city-owned Cornerstone property.
    He said he talked to Tyler Pribbeno in early October of his interest in  purchasing Lot 8 in the Heather Estates section of Cornerstone, but said last week the purchase is still not finalized.
    In January he was told the deed was being drawn up.
    He told city officials last week it “was not right” the process has taken this long and is “unacceptable.”
    Council president Doug Gaswick asked why the process has taken six months.
    “This can’t happen,” Gaswick said.
    Community Development Director Tyler Pribbeno apologized for the delay, saying this was not the only thing on the plate of City Attorney Josh Wendell, who was handling the legalities.
    Wendell said he accepts responsibility for the delay, and said last week the process can be expedited.
    Baker was told at the meeting the city would waive closing costs and the building permit fee because of the delay. As all new homes constructed in Imperial receive, tap waiver fees will also be given.
    Baker plans to have a home built on the lot for his mother.
    In other business:
    The council approved a health insurance renewal plan that will cost less for its 19 employees. Cost the current year is $383,506.44. The approved renewal plan starting April 1 will be $370,775.40.
    After a zoom presentation at the meeting, city administrators Pribbeno and Sarah Hoskovec will review a demo on the Sparq Agenda Software program for possible use at future council meetings.
    On a request from the NE Department of Transportation, a new ordinance on speed limits on state highways in the city was adopted. It changes no speeds, just updates what’s on record.
    After a 30-minute closed session on the Leibhart litigation against the city, no action was taken.