Arcadia must “do better” with messy properties

 Partially prompted by an Arcadia resident’s complaints, city officials are expected to consider tougher ordinances and stepped up enforcement to control unsightly city properties.

 “What we’re doing right now isn’t working,” said Jeff Hulberg at last Tuesday city council session. “I want my city to look good. When does the city say we’ve had enough?”

 Hulberg said as he walked around Arcadia he spotted properties with numerous cars and one with “junk” that the occupant bought and sold. One residentially zoned property seems to be housing some type of car towing and repair operation, he said.

 “We need to do better,” said Mayor Rob Reichwein, who noted a property near his home on occasion has as many as 12 cars. “This is a hand to the forehead moment. Sometimes I think you just get used to seeing certain things. Thank you for coming in. It’s nice to hear something in person instead of just reading it online.”

 The city issues warning letters to residents whose property is cluttered in violation of the city’s ordinance that requires residents to properly maintain their property. Those letters can be followed by citations by police officers and eventually fines. The individual applying the fines, Arcadia municipal judge David Hesch, said the city’s ordinances needs to be more strongly worded for enforcement to be effective in cleaning up properties, council member Kevin Mayzek said.

 The current ordinance calls for a $502 fine.

 “Whether we enforce the current code or get a stronger one,” Reichwein said, “we need to see progress.”

 “I’ve lived here my whole life,” Hulberg said, “and I don’t want my city turned into a cr*phole.”

 City administrator Chad Hawkins said the city “knows the problem people” and said he was seeking council guidance on how tough enforcement should be. He said enforcement dropped off during the pandemic.

 Reichwein suggested that the city might take over dilapidated buildings and tear them down to open more space for residential development. 

 “We could pay for enforcement with the higher taxes the new construction would bring,” Reichwein said.

 He said complaining with solutions is “just whining” and so proposed, for instance, that an individual who has a wrecker and numerous cars on his property be called on to help others remove cars from their lots.

 “I talked to (Hawkins) and Dan (council member Sonsalla) and heard that this is a cultural problem,” Hulberg said. “That our hands are tied, that there’s nothing we can do. How about we start with friendly meetings with people, or volunteer to help?”

 Council member Paul Anderson recommended the warning letters be more explicit in the consequences of not heeding the ordinance. 

 “This is not the first time that we’ve gotten complaints about how the city looks,” said council member Marlys Kolstad.