Councilors praise resident mowing and DPW weed enforcement, note ongoing pothole and blight concerns

Councilor Wells told the Common Council on June 18 that a house at the corner of Van Cleve and 40 Sixth Street is "basically caving in on itself" and described the property as an eyesore. He said the yard had been mowed by a neighborhood resident, Irv Mollman of Mollman Landscape, "just out of the decency of his heart and community spirit," and the council publicly thanked Mollman for maintaining the yard.

A councilor later praised the Department of Public Works for enforcing the city’s noxious-weeds rules after contacting DPW staffer Renee Rapla; the councilor said DPW followed up with the business and arranged to have invasive thistles removed so they would not spread. The same councilor also reported that a section of sidewalk on Post Road has been repaired and that the constituent who raised the concern was pleased.

Separately, councilors raised a safety concern about a pothole at 46 and Van Cleave that has been worsening because fuel trucks repeatedly drive over it; the pothole fills with water and becomes hard to see. Council members were told the street department had inspected the location and planned a repair. No repair date was provided at the June 18 meeting.

Councilors also reminded colleagues about community events including a Fourth of July parade, a city float and a Kiwanis fish fry; Jamie Weirich was identified as the city coordinator for July 4 events.