5.4. SR 07-09-2001River
13065 Orono Parkway
Elk River, MN 55330
Item ~ 5.4.
Memorandum
From:
Date:
Re:
Terry Tousignant (Bldg./Housing Inspector)
7/3/01
Nuisance Complaints
Attached is a list of complaints the Building & Zoning Dept has received.
directed to another department and follow-up is not necessary.
Many complaints are resolved or re-
There are two pending court cases involving property maintenance, rental licensing and possibly an
additional three regarding unsafe or uninhabitable homes. I will be at Monday Night's meeting to answer any
questions the council may have regarding any of the complaints listed However, there are several that are
likely to take court action that may involve the City Attorney's time and the B&Z Dept. requests council's
approval to proceed on these cases. The Building & Zoning Dept. support a hiring of a local prosecution
attorney per City Council discussion July 2nd.
';~xx Proctor-The "infamous" abandoned house remains standing. The Building Dept.had previously sent the
owner every possible ordinance violation concerning this property and we have yet to see any progress. The
owner is now using this property as a storage grounds for heavy equipment, junk vehicles and people have
begun to dump trash and garbage on the property. The County attorney was contacted and the police issued a
citation for this property. New criminal charges are being drawn up and filed with Sherburne County Courts.
On July 10th a meeting has been set up with the owner of the property and the Building & Zoning Department.
We will continue to try resolving this issue (i.e. house removal and site clean up)
Fax: 763.441.7425
www. ci.elk-river, mn.us
River
13065 Orono Parkway
Elk River, MN 55330
Ju~ 3, 2001
129xxx Meadowvale Rd - After posting this property as "uninhabitable" the owners returned to town and have
since sold the property.
214xx Meadowvale Rd- This house was posted as uninhabitable and the owner was to appear in court on June
12th. StaffI have not heard from the County Attorney as of this date and at this time, we do not know if the
owner pled guilty or not. A re-inspection was done on the property on June 11th' and the conditions were still
deplorable. The occupant was again informed that there was to be no occupancy until the home was made
livable and we no longer had health or safety concerns for any occupants. On July 3rd I returned to the home
and it has now been satisfactorily cleaned up. I will be contacting the County Attorney's office to inform them
of our findings.
112xx-205th Ave NW -This has been an ongoing case and very difficult for the owner and staff. The property
has huge amounts of debris, junk cars and general nuisance violations since last year. The husband has been
very cooperative and has been trying to get things cleaned up. We are hoping to get compliance without court
intervention, but that may be unavoidable in the near future.
97xx Viking Blvd.This was a rental property (duplex) that staff received a phone call from one of the tenants.
After an initial inspection, we found the structure to be unsafe for occupancy and had the tenants vacate the
duplex. The dept. sent a letter outlining all required repairs to the listed owner of record and requested they
contact us. We received one letter of response from them and up until Friday, June 15th, staffhad no further
communication from them. We met with the owner on Tuesday the 19th and she informed us the house would
be put up for sale on Contract for Deed. Cliff Skogstad and myself informed her that structural and safety
repairs would need to be made before occupancy by anyone under our ordinance regarding "sub-standard"
buildings. She assured us that she was going to inform the new owners of all repairs required.
4xx Irving Ave NW- After numerous letters, a police officer was sent to the property to issue a citation to the
owner to appear in court. The officer stated, "They are in the process of filing bankruptcy" and have had other
problems so no citation was issued. They were to clean up within the week and it has now been over a month,
and there is no change. In the past years, other staff members have issued orders on this property. A citation
will be issued and a court appearance seems the only solution at this time.
Phone: 763.441.7420
Fax: 763.441.7425
www. ci.elk-rivermn.us
Case
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00-31
Resident
Address
Date
1 / 19/01
1/19/01
9~25~00
2/13/01
8/2/00
10/12~00
6/7/00
7/12~00
6/19~00
7/13~00
7/13/00
5/22/00
6/27/00
5/16~00
5/23/00
5~23/00
7/31/00
7/31/00
7/5/00
6/13~00
7/12/00
6/2/00
6/16/00
6/13~00
5/22/00
6/8/00
5/8/00
10/6/00
9/1/00
7/31/00
8/2/00
Complaint
Junk Cars on grass/unlic.
Cars on grass
Bldg shed w/no permit
Water leaking in bathroom
7 cars/unlic in vacant lot
Staff Action Status
'iT Letter Resolved
TT Letter Resolved
Stop order
TT tag Resolved
TT Called Resolved
'iT Letter Resolved
3 junk cars TT
Junk all over yd TT
Weeds/branches/long grass TT
Yd is mess/junk cars/garbage/etc TT
Bldg deck/screen porch-NP TT
Car in weeds TT
Lots of junk cars-one on jack in back yd TT
Tall weeds TT
Carpet smells/washer doesn't work TT
No landscaping per ordinance TT
No grass -ir
Junk TT
Car-[,furniture, garbage,carpet,branches,junk TT
HUGE pile of everything in ddveway TT
Cars on grass/unlic/inoperable '1-r
Neighbors built 2 sty playhouse
3 sheds built w/o permit
Business in residential area
Stopped by Resolved
Stopped by Resolved
Letter Resolved
Letter Resolved
Stopped by Resolved
Letter Resolved
Stopped
by/letter Resolved
Resolved No issue
No violation No issue
Letter Resolved
Letter Resolved
Letter Resolved
Letter Resolved
Letter Resolved
Letter/call Resolved
TT Stopped by Resolved
Letter/stopp
TT ed Resolved
Tall grass SR says needed to deter fertilizer TT
Bldr cut tree/dumping TT
Grass too long on Blvd/no sprinks 'IT
Too many horses/garage SR/TT
Barbed wire fence put up behind homes 'IT
Junk cars/appliances TT
Wood/debris/junk car on grass TT
Junk cadappliances/construction debris TT
Stopped by No problem
Stopped by No problem
Gave to
Planning Planning
Phil H Phil H
SH/BobR Resolved
Letter Resolved
Letter/call Resolved
Letter Resolved
Letter Resolved
Additional Comments
Comp Date
1/25/01
1/25/01
9/25/01
2/13/01
10/15/00
10/12~00
6/7/00
7/23/00
9~29~00
7/13/00
7/20/00
7/23/00
6/27/00
5/16/00
6/12/00
6/12/00
8/10/00
8/10/00
7/23/00
7/23/00
7/31/00
10/4/00
6/19/00
6/13/00
0/27/00
10/5/00
8/10/00
8/10/00
00-32
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00-34
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10/4/00 Junk cars/auto parts in back yard also 'FT' Lettedcall
6/6/00 Grass too long TT Called
8/2/00 Deck being built TT Letter
7~28~00 Weeds/branches/long grass TT
8/8/00 No lawn since 98 TT
Stopped by
Stopped by
8/8/00 No lawn since 98 TT Stopped by
9/20/00 No permit TT Hang Tag
7/31/00 No lawn/weeds TT Hang Tag
7/13/00 Junk and junk cars all over yard TT Letter
7/5/00 CarJan with tall grass in Backyard TI' Letter
8/1/00 Long weeds TT Letter
8/1/00 Unlic car TT Letter
Hang
9/25/00 Deck building w/no permit TT Tag/Letter
8/28/00 People living in garage TT Letter/Tag
8/20/00 Abandoned house TI' Letters
Woman complains about who lives there/no Letters/stop
7/5/00 permits, etc TT ped by
7/6/00 Cars/junk/grass-numerous complaints TT Letters
5/30/00 Dog poop 'IT No issue
7/31/00 Whole alley is mess TT No issue
8~2~00 Graffittti/junk car TT Letter
8/2/00 Junk old car/large amt of junk TT Letter
2/14/01 Junk car/junk piled next to garage and yard TT Flyer
2/14/01 Junk car TT Flyer
2/14/01 2 Junk cars TT Flyer
2/14/01 Junk car-2nd time TT Flyer
2/14/01 PU on grass in front yard TT Flyer
2/14/01 Unlic PU TT Flyer
2/14/01 Junk unlic PU TT Flyer
2/14/01 Junk car 3-1' Flyer
2/14/01 3 Junk cars-3rd offense TT Flyer
2/14/01 Unlic car TT Flyer
2/14/01 2 unlic cars TT Flyer
2/14/01 Unlic van 'IT Flyer
2/14/01 Junk/unlic pU TT Flyer
2/14/01 unlic car on grass area TT Flyer
2/14/01 Unlic car on grass area TT Flyer
2/14/01 Unlic car TT Flyer
Resolved
No problem
Resolved
Resolved
Resolved
Resolved
Resolved
Resolved
Resolved
Resolved
Resolved
Resolved
Resolved
Resolved
Resolved
Resolved
Resolved
No issue
No issue
Resolved
Resolved
Resolved
Resolved
Resolved
Resolved
Resolved
Resolved
Resolved
Resolved
Resolved
Resolved
Resolved
Resolved
Resolved
Resolved
Resolved
Resolved
10/10/00
6/6/00
8/10/00
7/28/00
8/30/00
8/30/00
10/10/00
9/10/00
7/23/00
9/13/00
8/28/00
8/28/00
10/13/00
9/1/00
5/20/01
9/15/00
7/23/00
5/30/00
7/31/00
8/2/00
4/10/01
4/10/01
4/10/01
4/10/01
4/10/01
4/10/01
4/10/01
4/10/01
4/10/01
4/10/01
4/10/01
4/10/01
4/10/01
4/10/01
4/10/01
4/10/01
4/10/01
00-69
00-70
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00-76
00-77
2/14/01
2/14/01
2/14/01
9/23/99
11/27/00
4/15/00
10/27/00
6/12/00
Unlic car TT
Unlic car TT
3 junk cars backyard-police problem TT
Junkyard-Huge mess for years TT
Said all commercial has outdoor storage TT
Open well with car over it-Yard is junk yard
though TT
Junkyard-Huge mess for years TT
Junk cadbranches/junk in back yard-letter from
neighbor TT
9/20/00 Grading whole yd TT
Flyer Resolved
Flyer Resolved
Flyer On going
Letter/stopp
ed/call On going
No issue No issue
Letters Resolved
Letter Resolved
Lettedstop Resolved
Hang/letted
stop Resolved
4/10/01
4/10/01
4/10/01
On going
11/27/00
5/27/00
11/15/00
8/1 2/00
9/30/00
00-78
9/20/00 Junkyard numerous complaints over yrs
'IT Letter Ongoing
On going
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00-89
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00-91
10/20/01
10/20/00
7/27/00
1/25/01
2/1/01
2/8/01
2/7/01
1/23/01
2/20/01
2/20/01
1/11/01
1/23/01
Numerous complaints as this junkyard sprung
up overnite/Looks horrible TT
Numerous complaints/8-9 junk cars with exp
tabs all over yd- TT
Messy yd and junk cars TT
Junk cars/tow truck/looks like a junkyard-trying
to sell house TT
Unlic cars on grass area TT
Unlic car TT
Garbage along side of cans/they never move
can back up to house TT
Kids renting house that is homesteaded and
house is unsafe TT
Landlord renting out homesteaded house/won't
give her Rental credit TT
Disgruntled former employee called to say there
are bedsprings,stove fridge out back of store TT
Caller selling house/neighbor has junk cars 'IT
Cars on yard/unlic TT
Lettedcall/p
ics Ongoing
Letters/pics
/police Resolved
Letters On going
Letter/call Resolved
Letter Resolved
Stopped
by/Letter Resolved
No issue No issue
Stopped By No issue
No issue No issue
Called Resolved
Letter Resolved
Stopped/Le
tter Resolved
On going
On going
2/15/01
2/7/01
1/23/01
2/20/01
2/23/01
1/25/01
1/24/01
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00-93
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00-98
Neighbor complaint about this one too-moving
1/23/01 and he can't sell house because of all the cars
4/13/00 2nd house on property/no permits pulled
7/28/00
3/12/01
3/6/01
3/6/01
3/12/01
Mound of did/weeds left by developer
Scott gave to me???Person living in
motorhome in pole barn
Security lock hasn't worked for months
Mold in bedrooms around windows
They won't let her into apt she rented for 3/1
until 3/10-she is hearing impaired and has no
place to live
SH/TT
Gave to
planning
7/31
TT
Stopped No issue
Lettedstop Resolved
Planning Resolved
Planning-
gave back
to me Resolved
Inspect on
3/26 Ongoing
Inspect 3/8 Resolved
No violation No issue
1/23/01
10/4/00
8/10/01
3/21/01
3/26/01
4/10/01
3/12/01
00-99
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00-101
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3/3/6/01
3/22/01
3/20/01
4/3/01
4/3/01
4/10/01
4/8/01
4/9/01
4/9/01
4/7/01
4/6/01
4/30/01
5/4/01
5/4/01
5/4/01
5/4/01
Place is falling apad/leaking
Garbage apt TT
Heavy Equipment TT
Junk vehicles/construction equip TT
Truck/unlic-445 LWJ-1986 Ford TT
2 heavy equip left there for 1 1/2 yrs TT
Horse manure on bank of pond TT
Furniture in yd-5 calls TT
Junk cars-same house -owners will not respond
to letters since last yr TT
Garbage overflowing dumpsters TT
Junk Cars TI'
Has CD on this property to be posted as
uninhabitable TT
Two complaints re:car body in yard and dogs
running all over TT
Couch in yd for over a month TT
No permit for deck TT
Cars, junk, and construction wood TI'
Junk all over TT
Stopped
by/Certified
letter sent
3/20/01 On going
InspectJlett
er/phone Resolved
Phone/visit Ongoing
Dismiss
Letter Resolved
Called Resolved
no issue
Visit Resolved
Letters Resolved
Phone Resolved
Handout
Certified letter sent
Letter Resolved
Letter Resolved
Hang Tag Resolved
2 Handouts Ongoing
Letter Ongoing
Ongoing
4/2/01
4/3/01
4/16/01
6/12/01
4/10/01
4/27/01
5/15/01
5/15/01
5/10/01
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5/7/01
5/7/01
5/7/01
5/8/01
4/10/01
5/8/01
5/8/01
5/8/01
5/8/01
5/8/01
5/14/01
5/11/01
5/15/01
5/15/01
5/15/01
5/15/01
5/15/01
5/15/01
5/15/01
5/17/01
5/24/01
5/24/01
5/25/01
5/25/01
5/24/01
4-Jun
4-Jun
6/4/01
6/4/01
6/4/01
6/4/01
6/5/01
5/27/01
6/1/01
Running landscape business out of home-piling
clippings in back yd-numerous junk
cars/parking business truck on street
Junk cars in yd and drive TT
5 junk cars TT
Junk cars on grass and appliances in yd TT
Junk Cars and debds TT
Junk car & tires TT
Junk cars TT
Tires and lots of general debris TT
Junk cars TT
Pallets, wood and junk being dumped TT
Junk cars parked all over 'IT
Yd is not to neighbors liking Mayor
2 junk cars never move TT
Unlic car on grass 'iT
Lots of junk cars TT
Junk car again TT
3-4 junk cars 'IT
All the above complaints are from woman who
claims Elk River is turning into junkyard and
why don't we do something about it in her
neighborhood TI'
Junk yd again-they have 4 unlic cars on grass
in front and back TT
sheds being built/bad yd/deck built 'IT
House to be sold TT
Smashed car TT
Lots of vehicles in yd/drive/flsh house/snow
mobile/boat TT
Neighbor said this place has car on grass TT
No heat in Apt TT
Ddveway easement TT
Multi colored van on grass 'iT
Cars on grass& unlic/Babinski TT
Water in apt TT
Real estate agent called re: Bauer/Johnson
next doodcars junk/shed TT
Junk cars/campers 'I-I'
Empty lot with brush/tree branches TT
Junk car and long grass TT
Junk car SR/TT
TT/Planr Sent handout regarding cars
Handout Resolved
Handout Resolved
Hangtag Ongoing
Letter Ongoing
Handout Ongoing
Handout Ongoing
Handout Resolved
Handout Resolved
Called Resolved
Handout Resolved
Handout Resolved
Handout Resolved
Handout Resolved
Handout Resolved
Handout Resolved
Handout Resolved
Resolved
Letter Ongoing
Letter Resolved
Letter/Phon( Resolved
Hang tag/Le Resolved
Handout Resolved
Handout Resolved
Called Resolved
Scott ?
Handout Resolved
Letter/Hand Resolved
Called/visit Resolved
Stopped by Resolved
Drove by No issue
Called Resolved
Handout Resolved
Call Resolved
,50
00-151
00-152
00-153
00-154
00-155
00-156
00-157
6/7/01
6/7/01
6/7/01
6/7/01
6/18/01
6/18/01
6/18/01
6/18/01
Car on grass TT
Trailer full of junk and wood along side of
garage TT
Numerous complaints about this one and next
door neighbor TT
Lg amt of vehicles/tall fence/junk TT
3 Cars all over/1 smashed up TT
Trailed cars/junk TT
Man called and said trailers/cars all over and
garbage cans not put away TT
Two houses in back of him not sold and weeds
are getting in his lawn TT
Handout Resolved
Handout Resolved
HandoutJlett Resolved
Handout Ongoing
Handout
Handout
No issue Resolved
Called
00-158
00-159
00-160
00-161
00-162
6/12/01
6/19/01
6/19/01
6/18/01
6/25/01
This house looks horrible on outside
w/junk/vehicles/tires, etc-Been this way since I
started here/Talked to owner-having a garage
sale in June aand husband is feeling better and
will get cleaned up. TT
Boat in front yd and construction stuff TT
3 cars in front yd on grass TT
Junk car TT
Kids playing basketball @1:00 AM 'FI'
Le~er
Le~er
Handout
Handout
Ongoing
No issue
00-163
00-164
6/25/01
Pool is gross and a lic pool operator is not
doing chemicals-Told him that health dept
usually regulates that/I called County PH and
they say they don't. Almost every city that I
know of regulates thru health dept/there could
be a huge medical problem if the pool is not
kept clean and correct chemicals put in
Resolved