Speaking to attendees at Fire Station 4 on 55th Street Southeast, Code Enforcement Officer Margie Zietz listed the challenges of cost and compliance when repeat offenders are involved. She noted one offender could face $66,000 placed on his property in abatement costs at a time when he also is tax delinquent.

That property, which the city had made progress with last fall, is again scheduled for another clean up by a contractor, and the expected cost could consume half the city’s $70,000 budget for nuisance property abatements, according to city officials.

Zietz said the city received about 270 property complaints last year and performed 13 abatements. Of the complaints filed, about 60% relate to nuisance situations and 40% are zoning code violations, she said. She added 90-95% of owners contacted about issues with their properties respond and address the problems.

Principal Planner Doug Diedrichsen suggested residents voice concerns about properties earlier rather than wait until problems become massive. He said the planning division is continually looking to see if stronger ordinances can be developed. Currently, there is interest in codifying certain code enforcement procedures not currently in the ordinance, giving the code enforcement officer a roadmap to working through property issues.

It also was stated that nuisance violations can lead to criminal misdemeanor charges, while zoning code violations are not subject to criminal penalties.

One of the residential concerns raised at the meeting related to post-flood “zombie” houses, of which there are some that continue to exist in the floodplain. Building Official Luke Tillema said the city doesn’t get involved with vacant houses if they are secured and don’t qualify as a nuisance.

The city will be holding a neighborhood meeting related to the flood protection project, which will include a bike tour, on June 7. The next neighborhood meeting is Thursday at the city landfill, where discussion will focus on recycling and landfill use. Additional meetings are scheduled at the downtown Parker Center related to snow removal on March 25 and at Minot Public Library on March 27 to discuss public safety.