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Port Edwards committee moves to pursue legal options and media outreach to push DMI on derelict properties
Summary
Committee members asked staff to get legal guidance on using recurring citations and liens to compel action by DMI on multiple derelict properties and discussed notifying media and legislators to increase public pressure; staff estimates the village could collect about $7,000 from unpaid taxes on the parcels if the county transfers the obligation in July.
Chair opened a committee discussion after staff packet materials on DMI-owned parcels, which have shown little activity since 2020. Ben, who presented the packet, said the village previously issued ordinance tickets and then stopped pursuing further court action under the village's legal retainer. He said the village had identified public-nuisance conditions — abandoned property, debris and unsafe structures — that could be cited under current code.
"If they don't make the payment to Wood County, we'll make that payment to the village...the village's estimated amount is $7,000," Ben said, describing the village's current estimate of recoverable taxes from the properties if the county advances unpaid taxes to the village.
Trustees debated whether to issue recurring citations to build a financial encumbrance on DMI's title. One committee member argued issuing larger, periodic penalties would create a stronger incentive for the owner to act: "If we can legally go per property and we can get a lien on it, that's how you start getting teeth," the member said, urging that fines be significant enough to affect the property's value at sale.
Trustee Humble urged the committee to add public pressure to legal steps, suggesting outreach to investigative reporters and to state and federal lawmakers as a complement to enforcement. "Let's get this public and get their home state newspapers to pick it up as well," Humble said, describing media interest as a way to supplement legal pressure.
Ben agreed to seek a legal opinion within days on whether repeated ordinance citations can be attached as liens to the property title, whether citations should be levied per building or per property, and what penalty schedule would be lawful and enforceable. He also said staff would coordinate citation issuance with the police department and report back to the committee with specific legal options.
The chair summarized the committee's direction: staff will consult the village attorney on lien/citation mechanics and return with recommended language and an enforcement plan; committee members also supported pursuing targeted outreach to media and legislators. No formal motion to adopt a specific enforcement action was recorded in the meeting; staff actions and legal research were assigned as follow-ups.
