News
Humeston council hears, 'Work on spillway'
By Willa Clark
Nov 15, 2011, 10:17

The condition of the dam at the Lakeside Park reservoir is again under scrutiny, this time by the insurance company that serves the city. The city worked on the dam to meet DNR demands, but following another DNR inspection, the insurance company wants more done, to include either building a new spillway or major repairs to the current spillway, and wants it completed by 2013. Meanwhile, the city needs to show they are working towards those improvements.
The council decided to request a meeting with the insurance company representatives and a possible inspection by the company.
Ed Storm and Jerry and Renee Shipley came to the council with complaints about skunks in a woodpile and horses being kept in their neighborhood on property owned by Robert Jensen. Apparently, horses have been on that property since before the ordinance limiting such livestock in city limits, resulting in that piece of property being “grandfathered in” to allow the horses to stay. City attorney Dan Rockhold told the council since the ownership of the property has changed, the “grandfathered in” status changes. The council voted unanimously to abide by the ordinance and begin nuisance abatement proceedings concerning the keeping of horses in city limits and the woodpile which harbors varmints.
Nuisance abatement proceedings will also begin against Fred Fox, concerning junk vehicles and rubbish on his property.
On another nuisance abatement issue, Joh Eslick reported on work completed on the inside of a mobile home on Fifth Street. The council agreed to an extension of time, to give him until July 1 to complete the outside work.
A public hearing on a water deposit increase will be held at the Dec. 5 council meeting.
Because the state now allows landlords to avoid responsibility for water bills that renters don’t pay, the city can be left holding the bag when renters move out leaving unpaid water bills. Previously, bills unpaid by renters could be assessed to the property.
Cities are now allowed to increase the deposit required before water service to a rental property is turned on, to more adequately cover the costs of unpaid bills. The ordinance change will increase the water deposit to $250 for renters and $150 for business or residential owners.
City worker Bill Moore reported John Curran, who owns property adjacent to the city’s area to dispose of yard waste, requested to push out a fence row of trees over into the area where the city burns yard waste. The council denied the request, with concerns a lot of dirt might be added to the burn pile in the process, and also there could be unknown wires, metal posts or other matter in the tree line and the Department of Natural Resources allows only yard waste to be disposed of and burned at the site.
The council also—
• received an offer of $300 for an old van current used for storage at the city shop. The council decided to not accept the offer, as it is of more value to the city at the current time.
• had a quote for $1,200 to repair damage to electrical equipment caused by Vernon Dodson’s accident.
• set the next regular council meeting for 6 p.m. Dec. 5.

© Copyright 2005 Wayne County Newspapers, Inc.