---
date: "2004-04-15"
title: "Council Meeting Minutes 2004-04-15"
source: "2004-04-15-minutes-council-monthly.pdf"
---

CITY COUNCIL MEETING

April 15, 2004

Attended:

Lance Delgado, Mayor
Marvin Casebeer, Councilor
Anna Bass, Councilor
Karen Jacobs, Councilor
Roger McKinley, Councilor
Jim Hamsher, Councilor
Diane Clingman, City Recorder
Bob Titus, Public Works
Joe Hitz
Bill Harrington
Debbie Letosky
Stan Horrell
Sharon Gerry
Ryan Gerry

Mayor Delgado called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.  The roll was called, Mike
Springer being absent.  The pledge of allegiance was recited.

Abatement:  Mayor Delgado addressed the Council on the Nuisance Ordinance and
abatement and said he would like to propose amendments to it.  He said he would like to
see that if a property is abated by the City, the costs can be recovered and a lien put on
the property.  (It was later determined that this is already provided for in the ordinance.)
He also said he would like to be able to limit the amount of animals a resident could have
on their property.  He said the Abatement Committee would draft the revisions and
present them to the public for comment before putting them into effect.  He said
exceptions could be allowed by permit and conditional use.  He asked the Council for
approval to move forward.  Jim Hamsher suggested asking for public input first.  Anna
Bass said it would be better to have something for them to comment on.  Mayor Delgado
said he would meet with the Abatement Committee to draft the revisions.

Mayor Delgado recognized Sharon Gerry and gave her a copy of a letter he had written to
Honey Schatz regarding the abatement violations on her property.  Mrs. Gerry gave him a
copy of her letter (to the City) and also read the letter aloud to the Council.  The letter,
dated April 15, 2004, emphasized her frustration with the City over the condition of the
Schatz property, i.e., the stagnant water pond and the massive foul and animal problems
that have been allowed to continue.  The letter indicated that formal complaints had been
made over the course of a year and that little had been done to enforce the City’s
Nuisance Ordinance.  She stated that the issue is still unresolved and asked the Council
why.  She also played a tape recorded on April 11 outside the Gerry’s home.  The tape
contained several minutes of dogs barking, roosters crowing, and various other animals

Minutes April 28, 2004

making noise.  Mrs. Gerry stated that the noise continued for over two hours at least and
that many nights it is difficult to sleep.  She said the fallout from pigeon and duck
flyovers is overly apparent in their yard and that the condition of the offensive property
has lowered the property values in the neighborhood.  She cited negligence on behalf of
the City for not following through on enforcing the ordinance.

Mayor Delgado addressed why the City had granted an extension to Schatz to clean up
the property and said that they felt she had been making progress.  He said the water that
was creating the pond had been re-channeled and that it would be spring until they could
see what happened.  Gerry addressed the bags of garbage that had accumulated on the
property and the Mayor said they had been removed within a day of the complaint.  Gerry
said it had taken two weeks.  Regarding the fowl, Gerry said more birds have been
brought in.  Gerry again reiterated her frustration over the condition of the property, the
effect on the neighborhood and the City’s lack of enforcement.

Gerry also stated that the family is concerned over possible retaliation by Jim Bailey, one
of the occupants.  She said an incident had occurred wherein Bailey had threatened to kill
the Gerry’s dog.

Mayor Delgado said he would talk with the Chief of Police on Friday to discuss moving
forward with the process.

Planning:  No report

Public Safety:  No Report

Landfill:

Public Works:

Well Drilling:
Office:    MSP:  To pay the April bills, Roger McKinley/Marvin Casebeer.
Other Business:
Resolutions/Ordinances:
7:00 p.m.  MSP:  It was moved and seconded to adjourn the meeting.

Respectfully submitted:

___________________________
Diane Clingman, City Recorder

Approved this Date: ________________

_________________________________
Lance M. Delgado, Mayor

Minutes April 28, 2004