Residents press council over nuisance properties; council denies extra time for Higginbotham

Multiple residents used the public-comment period at the March 3 South Cle Elum Town Council meeting to raise safety and health concerns about two private properties, saying traffic and people coming and going have made neighborhoods unsafe and that garbage and rats are present. Speakers who identified themselves by name and address included Wes Willette (212 Sixth), Les Nelson (704 Broadway), Harry Nelson (606 Washington), Tim DeHart (603 Washington), Byron Parks (604 Washington), Drew Cushing (713 Garfield), Russ Libby (716 Broadway), James and Karen Adams (603 Madison) and Tony Ditsworth (702 Washington). Residents asked the council to enforce existing violation notices tied to properties associated in the minutes with Ian Adcox and Jason Higginbotham.

On unfinished business the council addressed two Notices and Orders to Correct. For the Higginbotham property at 604 Madison the Town Prosecutor had requested more time in an email dated Feb. 20, 2026. After brief discussion Councilmember Sandretto moved to deny additional time; Councilmember McGuire seconded and the motion passed by majority vote. The notice for Adcox at 608 Washington records the property owner’s choice to pursue a mitigation hearing. The council did not record further enforcement steps on the record at the March 3 meeting and referred to prosecutorial procedures and the scheduled mitigation process.