By 9 a.m. Monday morning, city workers were on the property at 304 West Sixth Street to address issues Clyde Zelch, chief of police, called extremely hazardous.

In the photo, taken looking west toward Legion Park and Highway 50, Clyde Zelch, police chief, pulls trash from the weeds surrounding the water-filled pit on West Sixth Street. He noted that the water “smelled awful.”

Nick Grube, public works director cleans out what was once a ditch. Tuesday morning, water was again flowing through it.

The property as seen Tuesday morning after city workers put in an intensive work day on Monday cutting weeds, clearing debris and pushing dirt into the pit. Just behind the tree in the foreground is the area that was filled in. The property owner will be billed for the work done by the city.

Around two years ago, the property owner had dug a hole for the foundation of a house that would never be built. The hole filled with water and was left in that condition.  The issue has been discussed at several city meeting with no resolution.

Joe Purschke, city attorney told the board several months ago, “Call him tonight and tell him he has until sometime tomorrow to correct the hazards. Otherwise the city will go in, do the work and send him the bill.”

In these types of cases if the property owner does not pay the bill, a lien is placed on the property until payment is made. The lien prevents the property from being sold.

At the special city meeting held Aug. 21, Zelch asked the board how they would like him to handle the situation. Something needs to be done,” he told the mayor and aldermen.

“We’ll have to call the lawyer and see what he says,” Mayor Otis Schulte, told Zelch. When reminded that the attorney had already addressed the issue, the board went on to discuss other issues.

Zelch arrived at the property Monday morning, ahead of the city crew. He explained to those present what made the situation so dangerous. “The property is so overgrown with weeds that you can’t even see the water hole until you are right on it,” he points out. “Since it was dug for a foundation, there is no gradual slope, the sides just drop straight down,” he adds. “I am afraid some kid will decide to cut across this lot, not even realizing the hole is there.”

Zelch feels the property owner has been given ample time to correct the problem, and feels the city can wait no longer.

A ditch that once ran along Sixth Street had been filled by the property owner. Nick Grube, public works director, got busy cleaning it out and dumping that dirt back into the hole. Ron Parmentier and David DeFrenne city employees, cleaned up visible debris  before Parmentier fired up the tractor and began cutting the weeds and grass. Trash was loaded on the dump truck and hauled off.

Several neighbors strolled over to watch the proceedings. Some had been complaining about the mess and mosquitos for a while.

Zelch notes that he intends to get tough with property owners who allow hazardous conditions to exist on their land. “We have to do what’s best for the town as a whole, not just one individual,” he notes. 

“We want to work with our residents,” Zelch  stresses. If people run into a problem that prevents them from taking care of an issue, Zelch asks that they call him or their aldermen  to work out a solution.