by April Scheinoha
Reporter
Thief River Falls residents are being reminded to clear the area near fire hydrants adjacent to their properties. Thief River Falls City Council member Mike Lorenson made the request at the council meeting Tuesday, Feb. 7.
“The home you save might be your own,” Lorenson said.
Mayor Brian Holmer reported that 420 Davis Ave. N. has been cleaned up. The property owners, Christian Paul Johnson and Amanda Prosise, had 10 days to clean up their property. They were given 20 days to appeal, but they chose not to appeal.
The court issued a summary enforcement order, allowing the city to clean up the property with Johnson and Prosise having 10 days to remove anything they wanted to keep. Sentence to Serve has now cleaned up the property.
The city had asked to be able to clean up the property again if it becomes messy in the future. However, the court wasn’t willing to sign off on such enforcement without due process. Yet, if a similar situation develops in the future, the city may seek a summary enforcement order at that time.
The council approved allowing department leaders or committee chairpeople to approve step increases for employees. A wage study led to a new eight-step pay grid, which is expected to result in many more requests for step increases going to the council.
The next council meeting is scheduled Tuesday, Feb. 21 at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall.