Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
Hartley council mulls ways to improve outcomes for nuisance properties
A crew removes a nuisance property at 255 W Maple Drive in Hartley in June of 2017. The city council is trying to figure out better methods of enforcing its nuisance ordinances.
An old issue reared its head last month inside Hartley City Council Chambers.
Members on April 15 mulled ways to improve enforcement of nuisance ordinances. The city currently utilizes the services of Northwest Iowa Planning and Development Commission (NIPDC), which was hired several years ago to assess problematic residences, send abatement notices and attempt to mitigate the violations.
According to discussion, city officials have been disappointed in NIPDC's efforts, noting an alleged lack of follow-up enforcement once letters are sent to property owners in recent years.
"There's no follow-...
