Property owners upset by city bills
Mowing and shoveling fees charged when property isn’t in complianceBy BILL SHEA, Messenger staff writer
When Fort Dodge property owners don't shovel the snow on their sidewalks promptly, the city government will dispatch someone to do it. The owners then get a bill that could be added to their property taxes.
That can happen pretty quickly.
Penny Clayton, the city clerk and finance director, said local law requires property owners to remove snow and ice within 24 hours of a storm. After that, she said, the city can send a contractor to do the job without notifying the owner.
Something very similar can happen when the grass isn't mowed. But because tall grass doesn't pose the hazard that snow and ice does, property owners get a notice before the city-hired mowing crew shows up, Clayton said.
Every year, the City Council refers dozens of unpaid bills for those mowing and shoveling jobs to Webster County Treasurer Jan Horton for collection as part of the property taxes. But that usually routine move ran into unusual opposition Monday night.
That opposition prompted the council to delay referring three cases to Horton.
One of those cases involved Becker Realty Investments, the owner of Dodger Apartments at 609 N. 22nd St. That firm received an $826.40 bill for snow removal done on Feb. 6.
Brian Becker from that firm told the council Monday that he thought the bill was excessive. He added that he gave City Manager David Fierke a list and photos of 200 properties where the snow wasn't removed all winter. He claimed nothing was done about those properties.
Fierke is on vacation, and Clayton said she wasn't familiar with the case.
City Attorney Maurice Breen recommended delaying action on Becker's case. He said the key question is whether the snow removal was completed around the entire complex or just one or two units.
Shawn Hemmestad, of Burnside, also persuaded the council to postpone referring his case to the county treasurer. He received a $452.50 bill for mowing and removing debris from property he owns at 1335 Eighth Ave. S.
He said that bill resulted from the illegal dumping of appliances on his property. He said he filed a complaint and gave the police a license plate number of a vehicle that may have been involved in the dumping. But he said officers didn't follow up on the case because the license plate number was connected to ''a fairly prominent citizen of Fort Dodge.''
Acting Police Chief Doug Utley said he would look into Hemmestad's complaint.
The council also delayed action on a $252.35 bill issued to Lynn Schultz of Johnston, because he may not be the owner of the property at 324 A St. That bill was for mowing.
A total of 39 other cases were referred to the treasurer for collection.
Each bill includes a $50 administration fee. Breen said that fee is to pay for all costs of the snow removal and mowing programs except the cost of the actual shoveling and mowing.
Contact Bill Shea at (515) 573-2141 or bshea@messengernews.net
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CommonSense
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07-30-08 2:46 PM
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Funny how you are so gald to be gone from here, yet you still take the time you read the local paper and take time out of your life to run this place down. There are people who had the guts to stick around here to make a diffference and all you do it criticize them. If you are so happy where you are at bukfush, take the time to spread your sunshine where you live, and stop trying to bring the people who still live here down. I've read many of your posts and you don't have anything good to say about anything. Fort Dodge is better of without you as well. You are a pathetic loser!
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Paladin
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07-30-08 9:23 AM
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I was expressing my opinion firefly. I could care less if I addressed all your issues, that was not my intent. You don't know me nor do you know my situation, so don't question my motives or attention to detail you jerk.
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fortdodgenative
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07-29-08 11:19 PM
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P.S. QUIT PUSHING SNOW & ROCKS ONTO MY PROPERTY! IF IT'S ON THE STREET AS PER GOD... IT BELONGS TO THE CITY OF FORT FREAKING DODGE!
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youngs
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07-29-08 11:09 PM
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I fully agree with firefly 94.thanks for the comments about my article hopefully more people will read it and stand up to this city.I don't think it will do any good though.They still don't mow the property next to us.
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firefly94
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07-29-08 10:09 PM
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I'm sorry for the goof in that one post--I was trying to cope with the character limit things got messed up. What I was saying was: I was telling about a family member who has had to live for many yrs next to a guy who lives like a pig. Weeds, dog mess & junk are all over the property. Complaints have been called in to the city to no avail. But guess what--The guy works for the city. That is how that one post should have read--That is what I was trying say when I accidentally deleted some of the words. Anyway, what I'm trying to say is that the city has no right to be charging ordinary citizens sky high prices for property maintenance when they they themselves are neglecting their own properties & are nothing but a pain in the r u m p to those who live nearby. Fairness & equality are the key issues here.
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firefly94
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07-29-08 9:50 PM
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Why did it take a $125 charge from the city to bring you out of the fog? Why weren't you responsible enough to take notice of the problem on your own? For some reason, paladin, you refuse to acknowledge the unfairness being infllicted against these people. Your h i n e y kissing attitude is really crass & disgusting.
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firefly94
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07-29-08 9:42 PM
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paladin--You obviously either did not read either of my posts or are just reading into them what you want to see. It is wrong for the city to neglect their own properties and then charge ordinary citizens for not having theirs done. It's just another case of govt making laws for their people that they refuse to obey themselves. I like the city taking action too--It just needs to be done with fairness and at a reasonable charge--$125 is nothing compared to the $826.40 that Mr. Becker got charged. Complaints to the city have been made to no avail. But guess what--The guy works for the city. So now you blame your maintenance worker & the person who, out of struggling for fairness, turned you in for your sloppy maintenance. You say you were glad the city made you aware of the problem. Where was your head that you were aware that there was a problem with your own property?
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Paladin
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07-29-08 7:22 PM
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This is so typical. Complain about the city by making accusations against them. Apparently it is true that the best defense is a good offense. This society today responds to criticism by turning onto others. This is our city. OUR city. If you see something that needs fixing or cleaned call the city ad tell them, or do it yourself, or would that even occur to anyone? I got a $125 for cleaning by sidewalk at one of the buildings I own. My maintenance person did not get it down as he should have. What happened was this; the city fined a city of our city for not cleaning his sidewalk, that person was so upset with the city that to retaliate he called in 20+ complaints of sidewalks not cleaned (or chose to be childish and petty). Mine happened to be one of them. I personally like the city taking action and I am glad I was made aware of the problem. Did pay the fine, yes and I did so without complaining. It is my city also.
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firefly94
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07-29-08 4:23 PM
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Yes, people should have to keep their properties looking nice--It's the unfairness that stinks. The city owns property that they themselves are making no effort to maintain. In the letter mentioned in my 1st post, Ms. Young says she's has to use a weed eater on the city owned property next to her because they never mow it. Why should she be doing this for free only to have the city charge these two gentlemen such a sky high price for clearing their property? Maybe Ms. Young should bill the city several hundred $$$ every time she has to weed whack their property. I visit Dodger apts often & have never seen it uncared for. Brian Becker is definitely not one of the chronic offenders. They probably caught him before he had a chance to clear the sidewalk--& just picked on him when they realized they could get a bigger wad of $$$ out of him than they could from someone on just a single lot. The public has a right to know how this $$$ is being used--Again, where is it all going?
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grammy
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07-29-08 11:18 AM
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I agree keep your properties maintained. I was sent a letter a few years back about my sidewalk.I was told to replace or the city would do it for me for a hefty price. I did replace the sidewalk. what about all the others that did not. I look around and see that the city did not do a thing about the others that were suppose to replace theirs. The city should go around and start replacing them sidewalks at the owners expense, they owners have had a few years to do it and it still hasn't been done. The same with the grass and junk sitting around their properties. Maybe it would cut down on the mosquitous around this town since the city cannot spray like the other surrounding towns do.
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jordansmama
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07-29-08 11:05 AM
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After moving away from Fort Dodge and coming back for a visit, I never realized how "crappy" the town really looks. I now live in a town where the city and the community work together. None of the parks looks like trailor trash parks and none of the building or houses or yards look like "crap". The main thing that helps with the place I live now is involving YOUTH. They complain that there is nothing to do, well get off your bums and get otuside and help out with the community. There are plenty of delinquents in FOrt Dodge that can work together on community services projects on a daily basis that can get that Town cleaned up and looking to its potential. Outsiders of Fort Dodge don't bother with visiting much anymore because aside from all the rumors. it looks unhealthy!!
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davesmith
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07-29-08 10:11 AM
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Yes, I agree that the city should set the example but when you look at certain parts of our town the weeds and garbage surrounding homes in town is repulsive to my eyes and others as they travel into our community. As to shoveling our walks lets be considerate to our mail carrier and others using the sidewalks (if you are lucky to have one in front of you home). It only takes a few minutes to do, let’s not be lazy here, someone could get hurt. Also, other fines should be given to the home owner( or landlord) for having unlicensed cars on there property, graffiti on the outside walls, places that look like landfills (look at the rental property along 8th street). Lets take pride in our community, keep it safe and keep growing.
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jaybares
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07-29-08 8:07 AM
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Clean up your stuff...Clean off your walks...When I get a speeding tickets, I am sure there are others who were speeding that day-but they didn't get caught. When you get your speeding ticket, I might also have been speeding, but I got my pass. Enforcement of a few brings many in line with how we want to live as a community. Drive the speed limit, cut your weeds, and clean your walks. Be a responsible resident.
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firefly94
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07-29-08 2:02 AM
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Excessive for sure!!! This is especially disgusting afer reading a post from Jennifer Young. On June 27, 2K8, she posted a letter to the editor telling how city owned property next door to her is seldom mowed. If interested, click on letters to editor @ left side of screen--then @ the bottom of the page 'view all articles'. Her post is found in #'s 61-70 & titled Upset With City. If city owned property is not being promptly & properly care of & THEY can get by with it, then why should these other people have to pay??? I am glad these guys are exposing what is going on with the city govt. & I hope others who are being bullied like this will also take pictures & expose it. Maybe this is how the city plans on raising $$$ to fix their crummy streets. LOL Seriously--Where does all this $$$ go? I really want to see some fariness for these guys!
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