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Residents raise ambulance-damage and abandoned-property concerns at Otsego open forum
Summary
During open forum, residents raised an ambulance-turnaround damage claim totalling $1,025 on 62nd Street and repeated complaints about an abandoned property on Parkington Avenue; city staff said code-enforcement and hazardous-building statutes are possible avenues and offered follow-up contact.
Several residents used the City of Otsego’s open forum on April 27 to press the city for follow-up on local property and emergency-response concerns.
Gabe Davis opened the public-comment period with questions about contingency planning if the city voided contracts with neighboring fire providers and asked when the city would hold a public forum on the fire department. Later in the forum, resident Gerard Zackman (6194 Oakwood) described an incident on March 9 in which an ambulance turned around in his hayfield on 62nd Street, causing crop and reseeding damage he estimated at $1,025. Zackman said he had tried contacting the ambulance service vendor and provided a contact name but had not reached resolution. He asked what the City of Otsego, its engineer, or the city attorney could do to recover damages.
City staff said they would connect the ambulance vendor contact with the property owner and examine whether the damaged area is within the public right-of-way; staff emphasized additional site information and a review would be needed before the city could determine liability or compensation.
Neighbors of an apparently abandoned property at 9502 Parkington Avenue also spoke. Ken Farrington (9530 Parkington Ave) and neighbor Carl Sandager (9539 Parkington Ave) described overgrown vegetation, visible interior debris and long-term vacancy; Farrington said he had photographic evidence and asked for a letter confirming enforcement steps. Staff advised code-enforcement review and said the hazardous-building statute could be pursued if warranted; the city attorney and planner will work with neighbors to evaluate options and possible legal avenues.
What happens next: Staff offered to review the 62nd Street damage claim with the property owner and to pursue code-enforcement or hazardous-building procedures for the Parkington property as appropriate. Residents were invited to provide evidence and to arrange site access for inspection.
