Council approves first reading of nuisance-assessment resolution for four properties

City Council heard a staff presentation and approved the first reading of a resolution authorizing the finance director to certify annual special assessments for four properties with outstanding nuisance-remediation costs. A city staff member identified as Kevin described the measure as the city’s annual step to recoup costs when property owners have not paid for work such as city-conducted mowing. “These are the ones that we did last year,” Kevin said, and he described certified mail and other attempts to collect before the city resorts to assessment. Why it matters: the resolution lets the finance director certify and file special assessments with the Henry County auditor for placement on the 2025 tax duplicate payable in 2026, enabling the city to recoup costs for property maintenance it performed when property owners failed to act. Action: council voted by roll call (Tom; Doctor Dave; Britney; Ross; Ken; Bobby; Jordan all recorded yes) to move the resolution to a second reading. No amendments were made at the meeting; staff said the action is a last-resort measure after collection attempts. Details and next steps: staff said the assessment is typically used for properties with nuisance violations where the city arranges and pays for corrective actions; the finance director will certify the assessments to the county auditor for collection on the tax duplicate. The number of properties to be assessed was given as four.