City Leaders Discuss Demolitions, Structure Condemnations and Prospective Parking Ordinance

Demolition, property condemnation and a proclamation highlighted the Concordia City Commission meeting on Wednesday evening, with elected officials condemning 14 properties across the city.

City commissioners Charles Lambertz, Marsha Wentz, Christy Hasch and Mayor Amy Jackson attended the meeting in person, while Ashley Hutchinson participated via Zoom at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 5.

According to City Building Inspector Bruno Rehbein, the condemnation process does not always lead to the city bidding out the work to demolish the building then, but it allows city staff to keep a closer eye on the progress of work for each structure.

Before approaching each resolution to condemn the properties, commissioners began by approving the meeting agenda and then had the allotted time for public comments. Only one citizen who spoke during public comments, which was Jodee Rothfuss, a neighbor across the street to 128 West 10th Street.

Rothfuss said she has worked with the most recent owners, but due to infestation, pet messes and more, she and her neighbors are concerned with cockroaches and mice spreading throughout the neighboring homes.

She requested that city commissioners decide to tear down the home at 128 West 10th Street.

Before getting into the 14 properties up for condemnation, commissioners heard a proclamation from the Domestic Violence Association of Central Kansas (DVACK) Rural Outreach Victim Advocate Julie Willoughby declaring February as Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month for the city.

Mayor Jackson signed the proclamation, and the public hearing for the condemned properties began.

Public Hearing for Condemned Properties

Rehbein first announced the publication of the condemnation notices in two editions of The Blade Empire Newspaper in December and the announcement of the public hearing, which was set for Feb. 5 at that time. The first property owner to speak during the public hearing was Kip Thorson, owner of the grain elevator at 333 State Street.

Thorson and his wife, Mary Thorson, own the property and planned to start its teardown process almost two years ago, but due to some thunderstorm and hail damage on their other properties, they delayed the process.

The intention of the teardown is to sell the unsalvagable buildings' materials while keeping the warehouse on the property intact.

Concordia resident Rebecca Cardinas, the owner of 414 East Second Street, spoke to commissioners next about her property, updating officials and staff on her remodel process to make the home habitable for her daughter to live in.

Rehbein explained the city's condemnation process to Cardinas, stating that even though the city might condemn the property, it doesn't mean that the city will demolish the structure, but rather encourage citizens to diligently complete the process of clean up or remodel.

Cardinas then presented some photographs of her remodel process for the property at 414 East Second.

After Cardinas finished her presentation, commissioners began reviewing each resolution to condemn the 14 properties, with Rehbein providing comments for each structure.

Many of the properties listed for condemnation, including 333 State Street, 414 East Second Street, 425 East Sixth Street, 716 West Seventh Street, 829 East Fifth Street and 1301 Lincoln Street, were allowed 30 days of extra time to obtain building permits for demolition or repairs.

According to Rehbein, the owners of 425 East Sixth Street, Everett and Glorianna Ford requested a 90-day extension for building permits, but commissioners were wary of allowing that long of an extension.

Rehbein informed commissioners that the condemnation process allows time for building permits or other necessities, so adding an extension delays it. Commissioners then decided to allow a 30-day extension in line with the other structures that officials allowed the extension.

Some of the properties Rehbein expected to immediately advertise a bid for demolition, including 202 Broadway Street, 325 East 12th Street and 421 West 14th Street, making no changes to the resolutions for each.

Commissioners adopted each resolution one after the other, allowing extensions for some, while Rehbein kept up with property owners' remodeling progress until reaching the rest of the action agenda.

After approving the minutes of the Jan. 15 meeting, they moved on to discuss Appropriation Ordinance Two, which included some water tower maintenance fees that commissioners approved.

The last agenda item was a demolition application from Out Lady of Perpetual Help Church for its empty elementary school house at 226/232 East Fifth Street.

Rehbein approached the podium again to present the demolition application.

He said that the property does qualify for the city's demolition program, which will reimburse the organization for up to $4,000 toward the demolition of the building.

Commissioners approved the demolition program application from Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church.

READ MORE: CFCC Announces $2,000 New Fund Matching Initiative 

Discussion agenda: Ordinance—Parking Prohibited in Residential Yards

The final item commissioners tackled was a discussion agenda item that stemmed from the officials' study session during the Jan. 15 meeting.

City Manager Amy Lange introduced the topic to commissioners, stating that it specifically addresses residents who decide to park in their yards on grassy, dirt or unimproved surfaces without a dedicated entrance from the street.

Lange described this as "jumping the curb" to park in the residential yard, which this prospective ordinance would address.

After some discussion, commissioners decided on a few language edits for the ordinance before considering the change. There will likely be a long lead period before the ordinance goes into effect.

For now, though, the ordinance draft will go back to city staff to readjust some language.

Staff reports wrapped up the rest of the meeting, with Concordia Fire and EMS Fire Chief John Christensen reporting that Miltonvale EMS has had some staffing challenges recently, so he has a plan with the surrounding area's fellow EMS crews to help cover the area around Miltonvale.

Concordia Police Department (CPD) Police Chief Brent Gering reported that some of the CPD dispatchers are currently undergoing medical dispatch training to assist with Concordia Fire and EMS' plan to assist Miltonvale.

Lange also provided an update on the FEMA application process for the recent blizzard in early January, and continues working on those forms with local emergency management.

The meeting then adjourned at 7:01 p.m.