The City Council of Webster City addressed a nuisance complaint regarding 300 Apple Avenue during its meeting on Monday.
“To give a little background, the nuisance is at the address you mentioned,” City Manager John Harrenstein said. “The police chief’s here to give an overview on what was discovered. We are holding this hearing at the request of the individual that’s actually living in the camper that is the nuisance, not as a result of the property owners.”
Police Chief Shiloh Mork presented the council with a timeline of events leading up to the nuisance hearing.
“Officer (Ryan) Basinger does our nuisances. He created a PowerPoint presentation. We received a complaint on a camper that someone was living in, 300 Apple Avenue. We also received a complaint of parking on the grass. So, Officer Basinger researched it, found that the property belonged to a Craig Severson. He observed illegal parking, living in a temporary structure and as of the 6th of October, the parking issue has been addressed and taken care of.
“A first notice of violation was issued on September 11th, which gave 14 days to vacate living in the trailer. The 14 days was selected because the City Code allows temporary housing for 14 days. It was served to a female by the name of Brenda at the residence. Her response was, ‘So?’ That indicated to us that they don’t think it’s a problem.”
Mork stated that the Code that was cited was 50-153: No temporary buildings, trailers, mobile homes, tents, portable or potentially portable structures shall be used for any purpose in any district. He said they referred to section B which indicates that there is no exemption from the rules for overnight camping trailers, travel trailers and tents, so they are held to the two week standard.
Mork then gave examples of how similar situations around Webster City were handled in the past.
Following Mork’s presentation, the council voted to approve a motion to declare it a nuisance and have the police department issue a citation.
Dick Conkling got up to speak about the situation. He said that he takes care of the lawn at the neighboring Reveiz residence.
“I think there is some drug stuff going on in that camper,” he said. “And I know you can’t live in that camper. I know he’s probably told the officers that nobody’s living in it. Well they are living in it. And the camper itself, half of it is not even on their property. It’s on Mrs. Reveiz’s land. The reason I know is I take care of the mowing of Reveiz’s property.”
The council also took the following actions Monday:
— Approved motions for street closures during the Downtown Trick or Treating on October 31 from 3 to 6 p.m. and for the Christmas in the City Lighted Parade on December 7 from 4 to 6:30 p.m.
— Approved the development agreement between the City of Webster City and LIFT WC with regard to the awarding of a $100,000 Emergency Catalyst Grant from the state to help with the rehabilitation of the building at 608 Second Street, which is the building that is next door to the Webster Theater that caused the November 2023 downtown fire that damaged several buildings.
— Set a meeting for October 21 at 6:05 p.m. to address the disposal of interest in real property owned by the municipal gas utility, as well as a hearing on renewing the gas franchise with Black Hills Energy.
— Closed out Wilson Brewer Park Courthouse Structural Improvement Project, which the council approved unanimously.
View this article as it originally appeared in the Daily Freeman-Journal.
Last modified: October 9, 2024