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Residents press council over Hartman’s auto yard; city says repeated enforcement actions underway
Summary
Councilors and staff discussed repeated complaints about vehicles and alleged junk on the Hartman Auto property; the city said multiple parking tickets have been issued and that alley parking is restricted to short-term loading.
Residents and council members raised repeated complaints on June 2 about the condition and parking associated with Hartman’s auto/body property, including concerns about vehicles blocking sidewalks and alleys and broken-down cars stored behind the business.
City staff said the city has been in repeated contact with the property owner and that enforcement actions are ongoing. “We’ve been in contact with them numerous times over the last couple years,” City Administrator Matt Peebles told council. Peebles said officers have issued parking tickets across the town in response to complaints and that municipal staff are coordinating additional enforcement steps at Hartman’s property.
Peebles and public-safety staff said the city has an ordinance limiting alley parking for loading and unloading (a 30-minute allowance). The city’s enforcement approach focuses on vehicle owners because parking citations are issued to the vehicle rather than directly to the property owner. Peebles said the fenced lot behind the business is believed to be owned by the same property owner but leased separately and not necessarily controlled by Hartman’s.
Why it matters: residents said vehicles parked on sidewalks and in alleys are a safety hazard and create a nuisance. Council members asked staff to escalate enforcement and to clarify ownership and leasing arrangements for the fenced lot behind the property.
City response and next steps: staff reported about 68 parking tickets had been issued town-wide related to repeated enforcement efforts (not limited to a single property) and that staff would follow up with Sergeant Straub and the sheriff’s office on enforcement options. The city also noted that changes to the alley (such as making it one-way) could have unintended consequences and require further review.
Ending: Staff said they will continue enforcement and seek solutions; council members asked staff to report back with next enforcement steps and any recommended code changes for alleys or commercial storage.
