12 of 38 properties make nuisance list
Grant City Council members approved resolutions at their June 22 meeting, officially declaring 12 properties as nuisance properties.
City Superintendent Edward Dunn said the city’s nuisance officer, West Central Nebraska Development District in Ogallala, originally identified 38 properties.
He said a number of those property owners either cleaned up their properties or sought extensions from WCNDD.
Property owners seeking an extension were granted another 30 days to clear up the nuisance issues.
If those properties do not come into compliance in that time frame, the council will designate them as a nuisance property.
Once the council has declared a property as a nuisance, the property owner has 30 days to bring the property into compliance.
If not completed in that 30-day time frame, the council will seek abatement, meaning they will have the property cleaned up with expenses billed to the property owner.
Dunn expressed appreciation to the property owners who cleaned up their lots, along with those who are working with WCNDD to achieve the same.
He’s hopeful the city won’t have to take abatement action against any of the 12 designated nuisance properties.
Dunn explained the city hired WCNDD as an outside entity to avoid any conflicts with having city employees do the inspections.
The focus of this year’s efforts fell on properties in the southeast part of Grant, south of 6th Street and east of Central Avenue.
Pool quite busy
Dunn said the new pool has been a big drawing card since it’s opening.
Attendance has been averaging 133 people per day with 120 of those swimming.
The highest total in the water so far has been 188 swimmers, which still remains under the 200-person capacity of the pool. Dunn said that even with 188 in the pool it didn’t look crowded.
Dunn said they saw a number of Imperial residents who came to Grant to use the pool while the Imperial pool was being repaired due to a leak in a pipe under the pool.
Council members also approved a substantial payment for the pool. Once all punch list repairs are completed, final payment will be issued.
A ribbon cutting is planned for Wednesday, July 7 at 10:15 a.m. at the pool.
CARES money
Like other government entities, the city of Grant will receive COVID-19 relief funds as part of the second round of CARES funding approved by Congress.
Dunn said the city will receive $198,000, including $99,000 already received this year and another $99,000 next year.
The federal government is still developing final rules on how the city can spend the CARES dollars.
Armor coating completed
Dunn said the armor coating was completed on city streets Monday. He said they had budgeted up to $80,000 for the project this year but the bid came in at $57,000 and the savings will be moved to next year in hopes of completing a concrete project.
Other action
The council set Aug. 31 for this year’s budget hearing.
Under legislation passed last year, budget hearings of a taxing entity can no longer be held in conjunction with regular meetings.
As a result, the public hearing will be the only agenda item at the hearing.
Mayoral appointments included: Toni Wyatt to the airport authority, Judy Tickle to the cemetery board and Mike Engel to the housing authority board.