CITY ADDRESSES EYESORE PROPERTIES
Wednesday, August 23rd, 2006 -- 8:30 AM
It is a problem that has plagued municipalities for years: what to do with eyesore properties.The Neillsville City Council discussed the problem last night. Mayor Diane Murphy said she?s received a lot of calls about four properties in particular that she called an ?unsightly, stinking mess?.
The City has an ordinance entitled ?Public Nuisances Resulting From Lack of Maintenance?. The City has used the ordinance before to cite properties that have risen to the level of ?health hazard?, as determined by the City?s health officer, but the four properties in question passed the health inspection.
Seeing the old adage ?beauty is in the eye of the beholder? is often trotted out in these cases, City Attorney Bonnie Wacsmuth explained the problem, from an enforcement standpoint, lies with wording allowing the City to cite properties that ?depreciate property values?.
She explained no one employed by the City has the authority or credentials to legally make that determination.
In the end, the Council elected to have Murphy contact local realtors to see if they?d be willing to testify unkempt properties affect surrounding properties? value.
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