Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Administrative Citation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Oakdale council keeps $77,600 in citations for former Kmart property after developer asks for reduction
Summary
After hearing a plea from Benderson Property Development that recent work and a prospective tenant justify a reduction, Oakdale City Council voted 5–0 to retain roughly $77,600 in administrative citations tied to long‑running maintenance violations at the former Kmart site.
Oakdale City Council voted unanimously to retain administrative citation fines totaling approximately $77,600 against Benderson Property Development for code violations at the former Kmart property, rejecting a request from the property manager for a reduction.
The council action came after staff presented a multi‑year enforcement history that includes courtesy letters, compliance orders, administrative citations, a lien and recurring citizen complaints about trash, weeds, dry rot, lighting and structural issues. Staff told the council the outstanding citation amount reflects fines assessed for persistent violations and presented three options: retain the fines, remove the fines, or authorize a reduction.
Randy Reuter, Benderson’s property manager since February 2024, told the council the company has begun repairs, hired landscape contractors and painted the building, and asked the council to reduce the fines by roughly 40% and expedite billing so Benderson could complete a pending leasing transaction. “We’re here asking for a reduction in the fees, and 40%,” Reuter said, adding that the firm wants to return the parking lot to active use and secure a long‑term tenant.
Mayor Sherlyn Barrios and multiple council members emphasized the length of the enforcement history and the staff time devoted to resolving the property’s conditions. The mayor referenced a prior enforcement action in 2020 — an original citation of $75,000 that the city reduced to $17,500 after settlement — and told the council she would not support further discounts on fines that were assessed for ongoing violations. “We deserve the fees,” the mayor said, noting the complaints and photos submitted by residents.
After discussion, a council member moved to retain the administrative citation fines without change. The motion carried on a roll‑call vote of 5–0.
What’s next: The fines remain in place as an enforcement tool. Benderson may pursue payment or other administrative remedies outside the council meeting; council members also noted the city will continue to monitor compliance and that any future reductions would require clear evidence of sustained corrective action and council direction.
