City puts teeth in nuisance ordinance

By Sara QuamHeidi Thoennes from the law firm Quinlivan and Hughes will work with the city to enforce nuisance ordinances. Nuisance ordinances cover things such as junk vehicles, stockpiled trash in yards and related issues that affect the quality of life for Luverne residents.Building Official Dan Delgehausen has had little recourse when trying to get people to follow city ordinances.The city may impose fines, but Delgehausen has only been able to write letters of warning. Sometimes the city would have its crews clean up a mess and assess the property owner, but that was more rare.Quinlivan and Hughes is a St. Cloud-based firm that also has a Little Falls office. Luverne native and attorney Diane Ebert works for the same firm.Current city attorney Ben Vander Kooi is busy with civil city work and his private practice and said he doesn’t have time to dedicate to the nuisance issue.The issue has been a problem with the city since about 2003, and Delgehausen hasn’t been able to convince property owners that following ordinances is necessary.In other city business Tuesday, the council:
Received a report from City Administrator John Call that plans and specifications for remodeling the Luverne Fire Hall are well underway. He said they’ll likely be completed by the end of March and thinks the city will be able to receive bids by mid-April.
Reported that March 8 is Legislative Day with the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities. On that day members from the City Council are going to meet with legislative representatives about issues important to the city of Luverne. Mayor Andy Steensma told council members who aren’t able to attend to send written statements for him to take to the meeting.
Received a report from Councilman Pat Baustian that he testified in front of a joint House and Senate committee on behalf of the Lewis and Clark Water Project.