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Residents complain of hoarding and alley washout; staff pledges to investigate
Summary
During public comment at the April 15 Hutchinson City Council meeting, two residents raised concerns about a hoarding situation at a nearby home and an alley that has washed out. City staff said complaints had been submitted previously and staff would look into both properties and explain the SeeClickFix reporting process to residents.
Two residents raised public‑safety and nuisance concerns during the April 15 City Council meeting, telling council the issues had persisted for months and asking for action from code enforcement.
What residents said
- Pastor Daryl Peterson (805 E. Avenue B) told council a property three houses from his had accumulated large amounts of trash and debris for nearly a year and that repeated city inspections had not resolved the problem. He also reported a washout in the alley by Severance and said he had filed complaints in person.
- Chris Jackson (814 E. Avenue B) said another neighboring property is a severe hoarding case with trash piled to the ceiling inside the home, a rodent problem (possums and raccoons), and unsafe cooking methods (propane torches). Jackson said he had reported the house previously and was concerned emergency responders and adjoining properties would be at risk if the home caught fire.
Staff response
- Matt Williams, director of community development, said he had not previously heard about these particular properties but would follow up and look into both complaints. He said many code-enforcement cases eventually move into the court system, which can delay visible status updates for complainants.
- Mayor and staff also advised residents about SeeClickFix. The mayor and staff noted that SeeClickFix creates a trackable ticket and provides email updates about status changes; staff acknowledged that once a case moves to the court process the ticket may no longer be actively updated but the city continues to pursue enforcement through that process.
Ending: Staff committed to reviewing the two properties cited in public comment and to follow up with complainants. Councilmembers encouraged residents to submit SeeClickFix tickets to create trackable records and to allow staff to provide updates to complainants.
