Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
Council member also raises concerns about long grass, weeds
SENTINEL-NEWS FILE PHOTO
Another vacant house in Hartley will hit the dirt soon. The city council on Monday approved a bid from IGL Directional for $6,250 to demolish a home located at 350 1st St. SW. The house sustained fire damage in recent years and has been abandoned. The city acquired the property in April 2020 from Angela Haasken at no cost, according to online property records. The property also includes an attached garage, which will be demolished as well.
A mysterious clog near Highway 18 has been cleared, for now.
Superintendent of Public Works Jaron Benz on Monday updated the council about a storm sewer blockage near the new Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Elementary building. He said the clog was located where a newer 15-inch tile connected with an older 8" clay tile, but was fixed when crews dug it up to locate the obstruction.
"It was some strange stuff," Benz said of the tile configuration. "Even the DOT guys hadn't seen anything like that."
The city had learned in recent months the storm drain in that area was clogged, but just how bad it was remained unknown. Benz said debris was cleared from the tile to allow it to function properly for the time being.
"We know what it is now that we dug it up and inspected it," he said of the unique tile set up. "It's cleaned out, and it'll drain better."
The tile's configuration will be logged in the city's storm drain geographic information system map for future reference.
• Industrial park paving to happen soon
Hartley's new industrial park will be getting roads soon.
Benz informed the council that paving is slated to begin Monday, Aug. 17. Dirtwork was the main focus this spring, and other infrastructure, like a sewer lift station, was also installed.
Benz said some grading work and weed removal has occurred at the 20-acre site along Highway 18 during the past week.
"They were gone for quite a while, but they're moving right along now," he said.
Installation of electric infrastructure is slated to take place before winter, Benz said.
• Long grass, weeds irk council member
Council Member Mary Westphalen raised concerns about enforcement of the city's weed and grass ordinance. Yard growth isn't supposed to exceed a height of six inches in developed residential areas, and Westphalen noted some people aren't adhering to the rules.
"We let a lot of this go way too far," she said.
City Administrator Erica Haack and Police Officer Ryan Austin said the city was following notification procedures set forth by the codebook. If a property owner fails to adhere to the length limit, a notice is sent to abate the violation within three days. If property owner fails to comply, the city will cut or mow the violating lawns at a cost of $100 to the owner.
"We do follow this and are well aware of this," said Haack.
