Nuisances debated at Riverside council meeting

    The Riverside City Council debated the issue of nuisance ordinances at its meeting Monday night. Councilor Rodney Waldschmidt said he is uneasy about dictating to people what repairs to make on their private residences.

    ?I have a problem telling someone what to do with their house,? he said.

    City Administrator Tina Thomas informed the council that the current procedure for nuisance abatement is to send the violator a letter in the mail. If the person cannot be contacted or refuses to abate the nuisance, city staff will abate the nuisance and then send a bill to the violator. The violator has 30 days to pay the bill at City Hall. At the end of that period, the violator?s outstanding debt to the city is added to his property taxes.

    Waldschmidt said one residence in town is missing a roof over its kitchen, which is covered only with a tarp. He asked why the council should get involved ?if that?s the way he chooses to live.?

    Councilor Ralph Schnoebelen then remarked, ?I say we visit him or give him a call. I think we should work with residents rather than sending them a letter every time we want them to do something. I think communication is the best way to go about it. Usually, you get more done that way.?

    Waldschmidt remarked, ?Where are we going to draw the line? Is the city going to send someone a letter because they have a crooked shutter? I know that?s extreme, but this is a case of personal pride.? 

    Councilor Todd Yahnke commented, ?You can say the same thing about someone not mowing their lawn, which is also a nuisance. I don?t have a problem talking to someone about that.?

    Councilor Betty Kaalberg said, ?I think we ought to take into consideration the neighbors, too. If someone gets by with it, then the next person lets their place go, and, boy, this town is going to look great.?

    ?What if he doesn?t have the money to repair his house?? asked Waldschmidt. ?Are we going to send a city guy in there to do it??

    City Attorney Leslie Lamping said that he didn?t believe the city?s nuisance ordinances distinguish between residences and other properties. He said the council has multiple ways to ensure nuisance abatement.

For more, see our Oct. 5 print edition.