Resident asks council to dismiss property-maintenance action, says he wasn’t properly notified

Jeremy Butler, who identified himself during public comment, asked the Rockwood City Council to undo a property-maintenance enforcement action that he said has harmed his family and could leave him homeless if it goes to court. "I'm asking the city council to dismiss this before it gets to court and just let this problem be in the past," Butler said.

Butler told the council he had not been personally notified about violations and that he has since stopped the business activity that prompted complaints and kept his yard mowed. "Not 1 time I've lived in that house 14 years. Not 1 time did somebody knock on my door and say, this needs to be taken care of," he said, adding that he had to request follow-up visits himself.

City staff responding to questions said the matter is currently not in active court because the property had been cleaned up, but staff also noted the city typically proceeds only after repeated noncompliance and that a court date in the fall remains possible. City staff said records show repeated compliance issues at some properties and that the city follows its property-maintenance ordinance when pursuing collection of cleanup costs.

The council did not immediately take action to dismiss the case during the public-comment exchange; staff advised the speaker to provide contact information and said reinspection or additional follow-up would determine whether the case proceeds to the scheduled court date.