The Clarion City Council meeting on Tuesday, January 18 began with a nuisance hearing regarding three properties owned by Che Hanson. The properties in question are 1407, 1413 and 1501 Central Ave E. The purpose of the hearing was for the council to decide if the properties should indeed be declared as nuisances and what timeframe to give the owner to rectify the violations.
Hanson provided the council with a page explaining some of the alleged violations and how he plans to fix them. He also noted that he is hampered by a lack of employees and employees that have been out for extended periods of time. Hanson left after he spoke.
Lisa Kist, the city’s code enforcement officer, presented photos of the properties in question and pointed out violations such as junk vehicles, an open trailer, and tires. She also explained that notice of the violations had been sent by certified mail.
In the discussion, councilmember Dan Hennigar said, “We like Hanson’s business in this town but we set ordinances for a reason. It’s going on four years with some of these issues. We’ve waived fines in the past. The council has worked and worked and nothing has happened. We’re not picking on him. We’re following the rules.” Ultimately, the council declared all three properties nuisances and gave the owner until February 28 to fix the violations or the city will hire someone to do it and assess the cost to Hanson.
In other council business, the group took up discussion of Ordinance 612 again pertaining to parking. According to the original amendment, North Main Street on both sides from 1st Ave N to 6th Ave N, with the exception of religious functions at religious establishments, would be designated a no parking zone. Fourteenth Street NE on both sides from Central Ave to White Fox Drive would also be a no parking zone. After the second reading of the amendment was tabled at the last meeting, the council passed it this time but decided to make a change to the North Main part. Parking will be allowed on the west side of North Main but not the east side, with an exception for church activities.
The council also approved and adopted the ordinance pertaining to solid waste collection and approved the second reading of the code adoption ordinance.
They approved an agreement with Woodruff Construction for them to act as the job superintendent for construction being planned on the Mosaic building for the Early Learning Center. City Administrator Clint Middleton noted that they are progressing on those plans but recently learned that it will take them longer than expected to acquire an HVAC system, so the deadline will likely be pushed back.
The council approved the granting of $3000 in hotel/motel tax grant dollars to the Barn at Walton Farms. They applied for the grant to make improvements to their playground area.
