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Broken Bow council hears about condemned house and park weed-control strain
Summary
City staff updated the council on a condemned property at 139 South 14th Avenue with safety hazards and said parks crews face a heavy mowing and weed-control workload that has limited timely treatment; the council noted the owner would be notified if the nuisance matter is placed on the next agenda.
City Administrator Dan Knoell told the Broken Bow City Council on May 25 that the property at 139 South 14th Avenue had been auctioned in July 2020 and was later purchased by Greg Barker; Knoell said the home was condemned prior to the auction and still presents hazards including missing roof sections and a deep trench.
Knoell said Barker has been granted multiple extensions to address the conditions and that the city has contacted him multiple times. Mayor Rod Sonnichsen said that if the matter is placed on the next agenda the property owner would receive formal notice and be allowed to speak at a hearing.
On parks maintenance, Overseer of Streets and Parks Darren Marten told the council crews mow about 130 acres per week and had sprayed all park areas except 5th Avenue as of May 25; staff had begun chemical applications on 80 acres of irrigated land. Marten said the parks department is not staffed or set up to mix all required chemicals for every park and that each ball field application costs an estimated $350 to $500.
Councilmembers did not take formal action on either item during this meeting, but discussed next steps for nuisance enforcement and continued park maintenance planning.
What happens next: If the nuisance property is placed on a future agenda the owner will be notified and given a hearing; staff will continue weed control work as resources allow.
