Stewartville council orders cleanup at 106 Fifth Avenue SE after repeated complaints

The Stewartville City Council voted to order abatement of nuisance conditions at 106 Fifth Avenue Southeast after a public hearing at its meeting. The council said photos taken shortly before the meeting showed overgrown weeds and debris around a deck and yard areas and noted the city has received complaints about the property owned by Jessica Korn since February 2017.

City staff told the council they had delivered certified notice to the owner and that she had begun some cleanup but could not attend the hearing because of work. Staff presented photographs placed on council desks and recommended city-initiated cleanup if the work was insufficient. One staff speaker told the council the owner had struggled to maintain the property and recommended abatement followed by monitoring of the owner’s ability to comply.

After closing the public hearing, the council read findings required under city code section 6 10.05, subdivision 2, and voted to authorize abatement. The council’s motion, which was moved and seconded during the meeting, directs city personnel to enter the property and remove offending items. Council members stated the property owner would be responsible for the cost of removal.

Direct quotations from the meeting include staff noting that the owner "did receive our certified letter, started down on some work, but then said due to work, she can't show up tonight" and the presiding officer stating, "The council hereby orders the abatement of the nuisance; we'll enter upon the property and remove the offending items." The council recorded the motion, obtained a second, called for the ayes and declared the motion carried.

The council did not record a named, itemized vote tally in the transcript. The order directs city staff to proceed with cleanup and to seek reimbursement from the property owner per the council’s announced procedure. The record does not specify a timeline for the physical abatement beyond the council’s authorization, nor does it record the owner’s presence or a formal appeal at the meeting.

Next steps noted in the meeting: city staff will arrange the cleanup work and seek to recover costs from the owner; council will monitor whether the initial cleanup provides the owner an opportunity to maintain the property going forward.