10-11-1999 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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TO:City Council FROM:Lyle Oman, Building Official DATE:October 8,1999 SUBJECT: John Hollander, 200 Hollander Road - Property Maintenance Complaints I have been dealing with Mr. Hollander on property maintenance complaints that go back 10 years on his property. Typical issues are junk cars, tall grass, junk and debris. For example this spring when the snow melted, Mr. Hollander had a pile of empty cat food cans 4 ’ in diameter and 3' high at his back door along with 2 unlicensed inoperable vehicles, tall grass, junk and debris laying around the yard and illegal signage. In dealing with Mr. Hollander over the years, I have found I get the best result by attempting to work with him by extending deadlines and coaxing him along. I have found if I push too hard, Mr. Hollander will not do anything to clean up his property which leaves me with only legal action to achieve compliance. Over the years dealing with property complaints, 1 have not had much success with the court system. It seems the judges have more important cases to deal with than propert}^ complaints. 1 started this year on May 8, 1999 with Mr. Hollander. Mr. Hollander always has hardships that prevents him from cleaning his yard. Some of the reasons this year are: The lawn mower is in the shop On medication that prevents him from being out in the sunlight Has to provide medication and care to sick cats that prevent him from being outside Lack of funds Cats living under the junk cars so they can't be moved Not able to hire help Due to the lack of p' ogress and increased pressure from the neighborhood I WTOte Mr. Hollander a letter on September 27 stiting the City would tow the vehicles from the property, remove signage and use whatever legal action available to require him to bring his propertv* into compliance. Mr. Hollander apparently feels the City is harassing him with the enforcement of the zoning code.