The Blight Ordinance Disaster
The City Council began enforcing a blight ordinance by hiring a part-time Code Enforcement Officer. It wasn't long before she became known as the Blight Gestapo. This person was hired from the Stephenson area. She was a police offer in that area. Why would a police officer leave and take a part-time job as a Code Enforcement Officer? It seems some issues cropped up with her previous job and she was either asked to leave or was fired. That didn't stop City Manager John Marquart from hiring her. He has established a history of hiring out-of-town lackeys. See articles on the Economic Planner, DPW Director, City Assessor and new full-time Code Enforcement Officer (all from out-of-town and none living here as required by the City Charter.)
Hundreds of good, peaceful Iron Mountain citizens were issued citations. Many of them were for minor grass infractions. The citations were mailed by First Class Mail, which made them legally worthless. Citations must be served personally by a law enforcement officer. The idea was to scare citizens into compliance on the cheap.
A Few Brave Men and Women
As often happens in such circumstances, a few brave citizens took the City Council head on. One lady (a particularly feisty one it turns out) had some mulch delivered behind her home so she could spread it in her well-maintained flower garden. She was cited for blight. Within a few days she had spread it. She then went to City Hall and demanded a Letter of Compliance from the Code Enforcement Officer stating she had complied with the demands of the citation. The Gestapo said none would be issued, but she would make a note of it.
Not good enough for this lady. She pointed out that a portion of the ordinance stated she could not sell, mortgage or refinance the property until she complied. She had complied and wanted it in writing. Her property was free and clear and she had no intention of selling it, but she was making a point of how ridiculous it is to have an ordinance that has such onerous provisions. She got her letter.
Another citizen maintains a home that encompasses one-half of a square block. A small portion of it is so steep it is impossible to cut. He was cited. He appeared before the City Council and told them if he had to cut his steep embankment, they should be required to mow the grass on city-owned land on Millie Hill.
A 90-year-old lady had just returned home from hip surgery and was cited for long grass. She was living alone and had not made arrangements to have her grass cut. She was visibly upset by the citation she showed a neighbor.
Another man who has been a solid citizen for eighty years was cited for not cutting some grass on a small, but steep, embankment on CITY property in an alley. He hadn't cut it in years, but suddenly it was a violation. He simply tore up the citation, waiting and itching for further action by the city. It was, after all, on city property. He said the city could issue a citation to itself as far as he was concerned.
Council Caves to Pressure. Blight Ordinance on Hold
The City Council has referred the ordinance back to its Executive Committee. The Executive Committee is composed of Mayor Ken Tousignant and Council Members Doug Rigoni and Jeff Van Laanen. It's been sitting there for some time now. Apparently the Executive Committee doesn't have a clue what to do about it.
A good blight ordinance is needed. Serious blight should be attacked vigorously and consistently. The worst and most persistent violators should be the prime targets.
This whole episode shows how dangerous it is to give authority to some people. They take it to the extreme, totally oblivious to the anguish they cause good people. The final responsibility, nevertheless rest with the City Council and City Manager. The buck stops with them. This City Council and the City Manager have shown time and time again that they have their own narrow agendas for special interest groups and simply don't care about the citizens and taxpayers they have been elected to serve. Wake up City Council. Wake up, Mr. Marquart.