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Area resident, council concerned about home’s condition
RANDOLPH — A Randolph property has been served with a condemnation notice.
Concerned neighbor Ben Benton came to the city council at their July 9 meeting to express his feelings on the home.
Benton highlighted many discrepancies but thanked the council for already acting.
“You guys already know what’s going on there,” said Benton. “Thanks for handling it before I got here.”
He claimed to have identified five city codes that were being violated, including a “rodent issue” and obstruction of trees growing in the public power lines.
Deputy city clerk Josh Rayford said the notice was for the property owner to get the land and house back up to code.
“He’ll have 30 days to start it and 60 days to finish,” said Rayford. “Then the council can decide the next step.”
During his presentation, Benton also brought up a concern about a raccoon.
“I definitely don’t want to see my kids get bit, nor would any of you want to see your kids get bit,” said Benton.
Benton showed a photograph of the animal and said it was “not intimidated in the slightest” when spotted in the daylight across an alley.
Police Chief Anthony Backer said he has been laying live traps but is having a hairy time.
“The problem was they had a lot of cats,” said Backer. “So, I quit trapping in the meantime, for the sake of the cats.”
Overall, the chief was not overly concerned in the light of the raccoon notice.
“I’ve only had two reports of the coons,” said Backer. “One was the photo that Ben has, and I talked to neighbors, and they said they haven’t seen it since.”
Backer said he believes the raccoons are living in the storm drains, but he will continue to follow Game and Parks recommendations.
Also in the meeting, the council further considered the reconstruction of a few intersections.
A representative for JEO Consulting shared their bids for intersections, the council had concerns about. All their bids included sidewalk connections to meet Americans with Disabilities standards. He estimated the intersections of Main and Wayne would cost $68,000. The Douglas and Wayne intersection would cost $50,000, while the Wayne and Nebraska intersection came in at $51,000 and the Douglas and Hughson intersection cost was $84,000 for only concrete costs.
After the consultation, the council decided to open bids for only the intersection of Main and Wayne and will revisit the subject at a September meeting.
Rayford also said a bolt came loose on the emergency siren in town, and cost $2,400 to repair.
The auditorium ice machine that was discussed in the previous meeting was replaced, but it didn’t last long.
“When they replaced it, the brand new one broke immediately,” said Rayford. “They came back right away and put in a new one.”
He said the city had received about $1,000 in grants and donations to help with the project.
The council also approved volunteer firefighter Aaron Olson’s resignation, saying they are grateful for his years of service.
The city approved to advertise the sale of a city-owned “rundown shop” with a 60-day bid period and a one-year deadline for the structure’s removal upon purchase.
The council also reviewed their insurance policy and possible renewal, but said they will discuss more in their upcoming meetings.
The next city council meeting will be Aug. 13 at 6:30 p.m.
