Wheaton city council takes action on abandoned houses
October 16, 2019
Vinnie Roberts
Multiple municipalities in Barry County have been making efforts to beautify their towns. The city of Wheaton is the most recent of these towns to join that every-growing list. At a city hall meeting on Tuesday, October 8, city administration revealed their plan to clean up some of the more troubled areas of the town.
“There’s a push to try and get the town a little more fixed up,” said Marianne Witt, Wheaton city clerk. “There’s a few things around town that need attention. There’s a few people in town that need a letter to get something started on that. We have an ordinance in place and we’d like to get something done about that.”
According to one Wheaton resident, these properties also present a safety risk to residents of the town.
“Some of these buildings are dangerous and need to be condemned,” said Wheaton Police Chief Clint Danforth during the council’s meeting. “We’ve got kids going in and out of these abandoned houses.”
In the meeting, the council voted to send out notices to the owners of the properties cited as violating standing ordinances regarding the appearance and structural integrity of properties within city limits.
According to Witt, these notices will be sent through certified mail and were delivered to the post office on Tuesday, October 15. The clerk then went on to explain that the city will give the owners a small grace period to receive the letters, but that the city will begin pursuing legal action against the owners if the issues are not corrected.
“We’ll give them time to get the letters and get them read,” said Witt. “The clock will start ticking on October 21.”
From that date, the property owners will have 30 days to either begin repair or removal of the damaged structures. Should no action be taken within this thirty days, the city will begin pursuing legal actions laid out in their ordinances against the owners.
Witt stated that five properties in city limits have been identified and notified in this endeavor. At least two of them are currently unoccupied.
“There’s a burnt trailer on Hurlbut Street. There’s also a property on East Main Street. Those two are definitely abandoned. Those two for sure will be getting letters.”
According to Wheaton aldermen during the meeting, targets for this operation also include a property near Wheaton Fastrip, and an as of yet unidentified commercial property.
For any questions regarding city ordinances or enforceable actions on the part of the city, contact Wheaton City Hall at (417) 652-3314.
Vinnie Roberts
Multiple municipalities in Barry County have been making efforts to beautify their towns. The city of Wheaton is the most recent of these towns to join that every-growing list. At a city hall meeting on Tuesday, October 8, city administration revealed their plan to clean up some of the more troubled areas of the town.
“There’s a push to try and get the town a little more fixed up,” said Marianne Witt, Wheaton city clerk. “There’s a few things around town that need attention. There’s a few people in town that need a letter to get something started on that. We have an ordinance in place and we’d like to get something done about that.”
According to one Wheaton resident, these properties also present a safety risk to residents of the town.
“Some of these buildings are dangerous and need to be condemned,” said Wheaton Police Chief Clint Danforth during the council’s meeting. “We’ve got kids going in and out of these abandoned houses.”
In the meeting, the council voted to send out notices to the owners of the properties cited as violating standing ordinances regarding the appearance and structural integrity of properties within city limits.
According to Witt, these notices will be sent through certified mail and were delivered to the post office on Tuesday, October 15. The clerk then went on to explain that the city will give the owners a small grace period to receive the letters, but that the city will begin pursuing legal action against the owners if the issues are not corrected.
“We’ll give them time to get the letters and get them read,” said Witt. “The clock will start ticking on October 21.”
From that date, the property owners will have 30 days to either begin repair or removal of the damaged structures. Should no action be taken within this thirty days, the city will begin pursuing legal actions laid out in their ordinances against the owners.
Witt stated that five properties in city limits have been identified and notified in this endeavor. At least two of them are currently unoccupied.
“There’s a burnt trailer on Hurlbut Street. There’s also a property on East Main Street. Those two are definitely abandoned. Those two for sure will be getting letters.”
According to Wheaton aldermen during the meeting, targets for this operation also include a property near Wheaton Fastrip, and an as of yet unidentified commercial property.
For any questions regarding city ordinances or enforceable actions on the part of the city, contact Wheaton City Hall at (417) 652-3314.