Staff reports new tax-office data, plans notices for about 30 property-code violations

Staff told the council the city recently received an updated tax-office listing that identifies current lot owners across town, correcting earlier records the city had been using. "We've got a new book from the tax office so we know who owns what lot of town is," the staff member said.

According to the staff report, the list includes roughly 30 violations involving junk cars, trash, derelict buildings and overgrown weeds. Staff said they will send letters to the recorded property owners, allow the time to cure provided in the city's ordinances, and proceed with further enforcement if owners do not correct violations. The staff member described the properties as scattered around town but concentrated primarily on the southeast side, with additional violations on the east, west and north ends and along several major roads.

Staff said enforcement had been planned to start Jan. 1 but that an inaccurate ownership list delayed action; the staff member said the list was corrected this week and that by the next council meeting they will provide a complete list of letters sent and the owners notified. The meeting record does not specify the ordinance sections, penalty schedule, or the precise number of affected properties beyond the "about 30" estimate.