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Residents urge action after hazardous tree, request sidewalks and repairs to abandoned homes
Summary
Two residents used the public forum to request city help: Nicole Lex described an unstable oak at 305 Spring Street that has damaged property and downed power lines; Dolores Mints asked for sidewalks on Winston Street and attention to abandoned houses and burnt‑out apartments.
Two members of the public used the meeting’s public forum to ask the council for help with local safety and neighborhood quality‑of‑life issues.
Nicole Lex, who identified herself at the podium as a resident, told the council she and her son live at 303 Spring Street and that a large oak tree on the neighboring rental property at 305 Spring Street has repeatedly shed large limbs. Lex said the rental property is owned by Derek Bartz and that portions of the tree previously fell across driveways and damaged vehicles. She said a recent fall downed power lines and damaged cars and that the remaining portion of the tree now leans directly over her house and bedrooms. Lex said she hired a tree worker and provided a written quote and photographs showing decay and the tree’s proximity to her home. “There could be loss of life if my son’s in his bedroom,” Lex told the council, asking for direction about what city offices to contact.
A councilor asked staff to make sure the clerk had Lex’s contact information; the mayor said the council would address the issue. During the public forum one council member offered a personal caution to residents to document notice to neighboring owners in writing so insurance claims are supported; that remark was given from personal experience and was not an instruction from staff.
Dolores Mints spoke next and asked the council again to consider installing sidewalks on Winston Street (she noted sidewalk access to the pool and danger for children walking from nearby apartments) and to address several abandoned or damaged properties and burnt‑out apartments she said contribute to neighborhood safety problems. Mints said two of four problem properties had received work but two remained unattended and asked the city to “walk around and just look at it.”
No formal council action was taken during the public forum. City staff asked Lex to leave contact information with the city clerk so staff could follow up.
