Landowners ask Winnebago County supervisors to abate nuisance at 50442 Apple Avenue

Jolene Jackson told the Winnebago County Board of Supervisors that she and nearby landowners filed a petition asking the county to abate a nuisance at 50442 Apple Avenue, Northwood, citing piles of refuse, junked vehicles and equipment, evidence of chemical burning, and concerns about contamination of a shared well.

Jackson said she and others gathered signed petitions and brought exhibits including photographs and a recorded well agreement. "This 1 property owner could affect the health of citizens, property values, and community safety," Jackson said, urging supervisors to take the exhibits into account and deem the property a nuisance.

Board members asked about water testing and history. Jackson said annual tests began after Anton Lennon purchased the property in 2016 and that earlier tests had been negative; she reported a recent positive test result and that a retest by county‑referred contractor Chris Hyer was pending. "We normally have gone through the Iowa State hygienic lab," Jackson said; she said she could provide videos and additional documentation.

Supervisors and staff discussed ownership of a narrow county‑owned parcel that Jackson said the property owner has fenced and blocked, including barbed wire around the well area. County staff described a recorded well agreement and easement that, Jackson said, authorized access to the well despite the owner’s fence. Staff noted that the board of adjustment will handle zoning variances for structures or fences on the owner’s parcel but said a fence placed on county property would be an administrative matter.

County staff proposed drafting a letter to the property owner’s attorney demanding removal of fencing from county land as a first step. Staff also explained the county’s nuisance‑abatement pathway: the county can file a petition in court, remove hazardous material or clean the property if a court order allows, and assess costs to the property owner. The county emphasized that criminal enforcement (for threats, harassment or deliberate wrongdoing) would be handled separately by law enforcement and requires its own evidentiary threshold.

During public comment other nearby residents described ongoing burning on the property, reported frequent small explosions during burns and said many neighbors—some elderly—are afraid to sign petitions because of concerns about retaliation. A county public‑health staffer explained that a portable restroom is acceptable if serviced, but that any building with running water would require a septic system, and the DNR and county public‑health reports were listed as items for follow up.

The board directed staff to assemble the petition materials and photographs, have the county attorney (staff member) prepare a letter to the owner’s attorney about fencing on county property, and place the matter on the next agenda for a possible closed session to discuss litigation, followed by potential action in open session. No formal nuisance‑abatement motion was adopted at today’s meeting; staff said a court petition remains an available next step if administrative efforts fail.