The Jefferson city council at its Sept. 22 meeting approved assessing the owners of 19 properties for costs of abating nuisances on the properties. Of the 27 total assessments listed, 20 are for mowing and three are for snow removal. Others are listed as “code enforcement.”
Code enforcement officer Chad Stevens explained the assessments are for unpaid invoices sent to property owners for work done by the city from May 1, 2024 through April 30, 2026. With the council’s approval the assessments will go to the county assessor’s office to be added to property tax bills. Two property owners are being assessed $1,000; more of the assessments are in the $200-$400 range.
The total amount being assessed is $11,690. The assessment schedule for nuisance abatements will be published in the city’s legal newspaper as a legal notice.
Stevens was encouraged to submit assessments annually.
The council approved the cash rent agreement with Adam Ebersole for farmland on the city airport property for another three years (crop years 2027, 2028 and 2029). The rental rate for cropland is increasing $10 an acre to $285/acre. The rate for hay ground is increasing $5 an acre to $140/acre.
There are 101 acres of crop land and 58 acres of hay ground. The annual payment will increase from $35,605 to $36,905 for the three years of the lease.
In the absence of city engineer Jim Leiding, city administrator Scott Peterson reported there’s been “significant work done in preparation” for the Westwood sidewalk project, but that rain has slowed progress.
Peterson also reported that he and council member Matt Wetrich, director of Jefferson Matters, spent part of the day in Guthrie Center to be on a panel talking about rural economic development. Peterson said the day was “very enjoyable.”
“I always love to talk about successes. It gives you a chance to relive the successes the community has had and feel good about them and feel good about your community,” he said.
Council member Harry Ahrenholtz of the council’s streets/sewer/water committee said some resurfacing projects planned for this fall may not be completed due to the number of wet days the crew has been unable to work.
