City Council targets nuisance vehicles

HARTINGTON – The Hartington City Council approved a new city ordinance Monday designed to prompt area residents to move old, unregistered vehicles off of their property.

The Council unanimously approved Ordinance 905, which amends the old nuisance and abatement ordinances.

The ordinance states that any person in violation of this statute, 'shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof, be subject to a fine of not more than $100 for each offense and a new violation shall be deemed committed every 24 hours of such failure to comply.’’

The city sent 25 letters out to property owners in July informing them they had 30 days to remove unregistered or undrivable vehicles from public view or they would be in violation of city code.

Current statutes indicate these people can receive a $100 fine if they do not comply with the city’s request to move the vehicles.

However, City Council members were concerned at the time that the letters might not see results because they felt the city statute didn't have any teeth in it.

This new ordinance should help to clean things up, City Councilman Cody Christensen said.

“Our goal is to clean up the property to make the town look better,” Mayor Mark Becker said. “The only way we can get it cleaned up is if we remove these vehicles.”

Also Monday, the Council agreed to advertise for bids for the new city shop building which was approved in May by local voters.

Mayor Becker said he is hopeful work on the new shop can begin yet this fall.