City Council discusses blight issues

Unmowed property and discarded furniture were points of discussion for the Glencoe City Council at the Monday, Aug. 3, meeting.
Council Member Allen Robeck brought up a couple of blight issues in the city.
The first issue was the unmowed property between 13th Street West and Highway 22 on the west end of town. The land is considered a state highway access way and has some trees on it.  
Part of the land is cut and baled by a farmer, but the area in question is not due to the trees. The city has asked MnDOT. Other parts are maintained by the homeowners. The area in question had been maintained by residents who were present at the meeting, but say they are too old to maintain it anymore.
The state treats the area as a ditch and mows it once or twice a year. Robeck asked the city to “get after the state,” suggesting a blight letter be sent stating it will be billed.
Robeck said that there are noxious weeds, such as thistles.
He said there are other areas that are technically state land that are maintained by the city. Park and Street Department Superintendent Mike Drew said the areas that are maintained by the city are by prior arrangements with the state.
After a little more discussion, Council Member John Schrupp made a motion to have the city start mowing this ditch in question. The motion was seconded by Robeck.
Council Member Gary Ziemer asked to have the area clarified “from where to where?”
Schrupp ammended the  motion to say the ditch will be cut from Fir to Armstrong and the motion was passed.
Schrupp also thanked the residents who have mowed the area for many years.

For more, see the Aug. 5 print edition of The Chronicle.