Royal council pleased with cleanup progress

Royal city council members are happy with how local residents are responding to letters asking them to clean up their properties.

During discussion on June 8, council members were informed that after a second inspection of properties, only 10 had not completely addressed issues listed in notices they had received. That compares to the more than 50 properties that were identified during the initial survey conducted in April.

“That is outstanding,” responded Mayor Josh Toft.

According to Council Member Mitch Fahnlander, progress was made at the 10 properties since the second letters were sent, “but they have a long way to go.”

The council discussed the next steps to be taken. Addresses of properties needing additional cleanup will be forwarded to Northwest Iowa Planning and Development. They will inspect those properties and document what remains to be done to bring them into compliance with city code. Notices to abate the nuisances will be sent to the property owners.

“They will not be fined right now. They will have another 30 days,” Fahnlander said.

The council did hear from a resident who had received a second cleanup letter. She expressed concern with the way residents were notified by the city.

“Whoever is in charge of this, they need to find out who these people are and talk to them. They have to take responsibility,” she said.

Toft explained the council’s intentions were to look at properties citywide with “a blind eye” and treat everyone the same.

“If we can learn from this, we will,” he said.

In other business, Toft said he had talked with Mi-Tech Services regarding easements for Alliant Energy’s underground electrical project. AgState requested that the site for an easement in that area be moved to the other side of the street. The location of a proposed easement in Triangle Park will also have to be determined.

The council also authorized Maintenance Superintendent Sherman Nielsen to obtain crushed concrete from AgState. He wants to replenish the city’s stockpile as well as spread some the material on the drive to the city’s lagoon.

“It doesn’t spoil and the price is really cheap,” Nielsen noted.