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Borger commission delays enforcement, sets monthly and bi-monthly follow-ups for nuisance properties
Summary
The Borger Building Standards Commission reviewed several long-running code-enforcement cases on Jan. 2, 2025, acknowledging progress at multiple properties but ordering return appearances to verify continued cleanup and address fire hazards, junk vehicles and damaged structures.
The Borger Building Standards Commission on Jan. 2, 2025, agreed to delay formal enforcement at several properties and set follow-up inspections after hearing progress reports from owners and code staff.
The commission said owners at 1101 Monroe, lots 17–18 in the North Hill addition (referred to in the agenda), 709 California Street (lot 45) and 727 North Cedar will return for status reviews: 1101 Monroe was removed from the active agenda after staff reported satisfactory work; the North Hill and California Street properties will be rechecked at the commission’s next meeting; and the North Cedar property will return for review in two meetings.
The actions came after staff and property owners described partial cleanup but flagged remaining hazards. Johnny Ladick, the commission’s case manager, told the panel that while front-yard work has been substantial at multiple sites, backyards still contain accumulated material, an inoperable vehicle and, at times, piles of burnable debris that pose fire risks. In the hearing on 709 California Street, residents Lloyd and Brenda Wagner identified themselves as the property owners and said they were working to remove trash, cut firewood and repair a boat and vehicles for sale online.
Commission members repeatedly told owners the goal was to reduce fire and safety hazards and to get properties “off the radar” by making visible progress. Staff reminded owners that under state law the local code treats multiple inoperable vehicles (and boats stored in the same conditions) as junk vehicles; owners may keep a single operable vehicle behind a screened fence but multiple wrecked or unregistered vehicles and boats can be a violation. The commission emphasized that code definitions — including operability, missing parts and registration status — determine whether a vehicle qualifies as a junk vehicle.
At 1101 Monroe, a staff member reported an email from a colleague, John, praising recent repairs; commissioners voted to remove that case from the agenda. For the North Hill lot 17–18 case, staff noted a trailer and fence in poor condition and asked for further cleanup behind the fence; commissioners moved to reexamine the property at the next meeting. At 709 California Street, code staff said the backyard remained cluttered despite progress in the front; the commission set a review at the next meeting and advised the Wagners about options for hauling brush and coordinating with the transfer station. At 727 North Cedar, property owners have removed a burned garage and proposed new siding, but the commission noted dead trees and exposed exterior wood and set a two-meeting review.
Each motion to continue monitoring carried on voice votes with no recorded dissents. The commission opened the public hearings, heard property owners’ timelines for removal of debris and vehicles, and directed staff to inspect progress at the intervals set. Johnny Ladick was identified in the discussion as the case manager working with property owners on both the North Hill and California Street matters.
The commission concluded the meeting by scheduling the follow-ups and adjourning after the vote to continue review for the listed properties.
