Council requires abatement

• City of Worthington

Worthington City Hall (Brian Korthals/Daily Globe)

Talk about it

WORTHINGTON — The Worthington City Council voted for abatement of a public nuisance within 60 days at its Monday meeting.

Following a public hearing on the matter, the city found that the property located at 860 S. Lake St. and owned by Kevin and Cindy Pospisil was a public nuisance and in violation of a zoning ordinance.

Director of Community and Economic Development Brad Chapulis reported that the property was zoned transitional, which means it can be used for crop-only agricultural use or homesteads.

Assistant City Attorney Dave Von Holtum asked Chapulis whether the “salvage yard” currently located on the property was a permissible use.

Chapulis answered that it was not without a permit, which the Pospisils do not have.

Von Holtum called Myra Onnen, a Neighborhood Services Officer to testify as to the condition of the property when she first visited it in late March, at which time she took photographs.

“Did you determine there was much difference in the property from when the photos were taken March 27?” he asked Onnen.

She responded that no, on a subsequent visit she had not seen improvements made.

After the request for abatement was filed by the Neighborhood Services Office, and the problem was not abated, a formal Notice of Violation prepared by the city attorney’s office was served in May.

“At the time that I served the papers, I didn’t see much changes from March,” stated Dan Bogie, who sometimes delivers notices for the city, and hand-delivered the notice to the Pospisils.

He said the property was located at the edge of a grove of apple trees, inside which several vehicles were parked.

“I did notice it has been cleaned up closer to the home,” he said, adding that several of the vehicles that had previously been unlicensed were now licensed.

According to city ordinance, all vehicles not stored in a garage or behind a fence must be fully licensed and operational.

Kevin Pospisil attended, but did not speak other than to inquire whether putting up a fence would solve the problem.

According to the public works memorandum, no appeal was made, and nothing has been done to abate the nuisance.

“It’s primarily a matter of cleaning up a junkyard,” Von Holtum said.

The council voted unanimously to order the Pospisils to abate the nuisance within 60 days.

In other business, the council Monday:

• Authorized and awarded the sale of $2.71 million General Obligation Permanent Improvement Revolving Bonds. Received a report from Ehlers and Associates that the city has received an improved bond rating of AA- on the Standard and Poor Index, which should save the city about $35,000 in interest during the next 15 years.

• Approved a roughly $7,500 change order to the Bio Science Spec Building for site grading, installation of a temporary storm sewer inlet in the south parking lot, installation of gutters and downspouts on the south side of the building and finishing of the office floor of the Wind Energy Services space with a concrete stain.

• Authorized the execution of a Safe and Sober agreement, which would allow the city to use a state grant to pay for officer’s overtime during initiatives focusing on traffic safety enforcement and impaired driving violations.

• Approved plans for the 2009 storm sewer improvement project and the 2009 bituminous overlay project on several street segments throughout the city.

• Requested bids for the Sailboard Beach and Lakefront Park Sodding Project, which will sod and seed the beach area in the vicinity of the former power plant site.

• Appointed the firm of Wendland, Sellars, Bromeland, P.A. as special council for the eminent domain proceedings related to properties on the frontage road south of Ryan’s Road.

• Commended Worthington Police Officer Randy Liepold and his dog Laika, that placed fifth overall in the USPCA Region 12 PDI K-9 trials.

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