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Warsaw eyes dilapidated buildings
By Cindy Iutzi/Gate City Staff Writer
The abatement of several dilapidated buildings in Warsaw, Ill., will be a focus of the city this spring.
Resident Jeff Hughes lives near one of the buildings and complained about it to the city council.
“There's a lot of animal activity in the building and children are playing in it,” he said. “And there are cat problems. I'm chasing more cats off my front porch, out of my dog house and they are ripping my yard apart. “I'd like to know what I can do to protect my yard.”
Hughes said that some of the cats come from the dilapidated building and others are fed and named by neighbors who won't take care of them when there's a problem.
According to Mayor Robert Frank, the city animal shelter already is at capacity with four dogs. More space is needed, but cost, especially for the amenities required by the state, is a factor. Frank suggested that Hughes speak with city police officers about how he can remove the cats from his property.
City building inspector Joe Clarke said he intends to officially call several buildings in the city dilapidated and declare them a nuisance: a house in a residential neighborhood at Eighth and Crawford, a building at 318 Main, the Warsaw Signal building on Main and another house at 310 Crawford.
The next step is for the city council to pass an ordinance calling for condemnation. At that point, letters of intent will be served on the property owners.
“This has gone on so long, a year at least, and nothing has been done,” Clark said.
Warsaw Water Superintendent Joe Samuels said his department awaits the return of a diving team to check what is plugging the city's water intake as soon as the flooding along the Mississippi River subsides.
The water department has set up a gasoline pump and high water line to supply the city water plant.
“The city has plenty of water,” Samuels said.
Samuels bought a four-inch backup trash pump as a backup. He said only three-inch pumps were available for rent and would not have kept up with the city's water use.
“We're keeping our heads above water and keeping ahead of the pump,” Samuels said.
Warsaw experienced the same problem in August 2007 when flood waters carried debris and sand to the Illinois side of the river and plugged the intake.
This time the water plant equipment, such as the claricones, filled with sand and had to be cleaned out. City workers and volunteers worked for 24 hours to get the sand out and the water plant back in service.
Samuels also reported that all of the parts and equipment for the city's new telemetry system have arrived and are ready for installation.
The council approved an ordinance raising water and sewer rates to help defray the rising costs of maintenance and repair. The charge for minimum water services was increased to $22.50 per month. Beginning Thursday the minimum water usage rate for more than 2,000 gallons became $6.70 per $1,000 gallons.
The minimum sewer rate, now in effect, is $7.40 per month and the new sewer rate is $1.86 per 1,000 gallons.
The rates will annually increase by 3 percent on May 1 for the next three years.
Also, property owners are responsible for the cost of repairs to curb stops, if they are damaged. The city believes several curb stops have been tampered with to prevent personnel from shutting off service.
When service is terminated on property without notice the city will remove the meter and return it only when the final bill is paid.
Landowners also must pay for damages caused by their meter pit freezing under the terms of the ordinance.
City council members also were updated about the Warsaw Road by consulting engineer Elgin Berry of Poepping, Stone, Bach and Associates, Keokuk.
Warsaw had its portion of the road rehabilitated last year with help from state funds. Much of the reconstruction was done by W.L. Miller Co. of Hamilton, Ill.
Berry said seeding along the right of way is finished. He has sent in a change order to the state for additional guard rails and awaits authorization.
He said work around a fire hydrant and a stop sign are still to be done and discussed putting new stripes on the road.
“It's kind of disappointing about the striping out there,” he said. “Essentially it is gone.”
Frank and city council members decided to try re-painting stripes one more time before considering a more expensive alternative to paint.
In other business the city council:
Heard that T-ball starts June 4 and goes for six weeks.
Was told the men's fast pitch team has revived the name, Stag Boys, and will have a reunion game on May 24. Former players are invited to return, play or watch the game and have refreshments.
Learned that Chris Roberts, the city's newly hired police officer, is in a two-week transition course in Champaign, Ill.
Had its sewer grant request for Mill Street turned down by the state.
Wants residents to call City Hall if they have a junk car that needs to be removed.
Received a mosquito spraying bid from the Village of Ursa and turned it over to committee.
Announced a citywide garage sale on June 13-14.
Directed three garbage bids to committee for further research.
Approved building permits: Tom Landis, 571 College Hill, 24-by-24-foot garage, $6,000, and permission to demolish an existing shed; Betty Jeffers, 520 S. 10th St., chain link fence, $120; Jeremy Conkright, 525 Mill St., siding on house, no value given; Eric Rhodes, 535 and 635 Clay St., demolition of house at 535 Clay and a 68-foot fence on the west side of the car wash, $150; Joe Thompson, 520 Clark St., replace siding on storage shed, $600; Josh Smith, 620 Jackson St., 21-by-22-by 8-foot garage and 128-foot replacement fence, $4,000; and Matt Heisler, 840 Webster St., 40-by-20-foot deck, $3,500.
Resident Jeff Hughes lives near one of the buildings and complained about it to the city council.
“There's a lot of animal activity in the building and children are playing in it,” he said. “And there are cat problems. I'm chasing more cats off my front porch, out of my dog house and they are ripping my yard apart. “I'd like to know what I can do to protect my yard.”
Hughes said that some of the cats come from the dilapidated building and others are fed and named by neighbors who won't take care of them when there's a problem.
According to Mayor Robert Frank, the city animal shelter already is at capacity with four dogs. More space is needed, but cost, especially for the amenities required by the state, is a factor. Frank suggested that Hughes speak with city police officers about how he can remove the cats from his property.
City building inspector Joe Clarke said he intends to officially call several buildings in the city dilapidated and declare them a nuisance: a house in a residential neighborhood at Eighth and Crawford, a building at 318 Main, the Warsaw Signal building on Main and another house at 310 Crawford.
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“This has gone on so long, a year at least, and nothing has been done,” Clark said.
Warsaw Water Superintendent Joe Samuels said his department awaits the return of a diving team to check what is plugging the city's water intake as soon as the flooding along the Mississippi River subsides.
The water department has set up a gasoline pump and high water line to supply the city water plant.
“The city has plenty of water,” Samuels said.
Samuels bought a four-inch backup trash pump as a backup. He said only three-inch pumps were available for rent and would not have kept up with the city's water use.
“We're keeping our heads above water and keeping ahead of the pump,” Samuels said.
Warsaw experienced the same problem in August 2007 when flood waters carried debris and sand to the Illinois side of the river and plugged the intake.
This time the water plant equipment, such as the claricones, filled with sand and had to be cleaned out. City workers and volunteers worked for 24 hours to get the sand out and the water plant back in service.
Samuels also reported that all of the parts and equipment for the city's new telemetry system have arrived and are ready for installation.
The council approved an ordinance raising water and sewer rates to help defray the rising costs of maintenance and repair. The charge for minimum water services was increased to $22.50 per month. Beginning Thursday the minimum water usage rate for more than 2,000 gallons became $6.70 per $1,000 gallons.
The minimum sewer rate, now in effect, is $7.40 per month and the new sewer rate is $1.86 per 1,000 gallons.
The rates will annually increase by 3 percent on May 1 for the next three years.
Also, property owners are responsible for the cost of repairs to curb stops, if they are damaged. The city believes several curb stops have been tampered with to prevent personnel from shutting off service.
When service is terminated on property without notice the city will remove the meter and return it only when the final bill is paid.
Landowners also must pay for damages caused by their meter pit freezing under the terms of the ordinance.
City council members also were updated about the Warsaw Road by consulting engineer Elgin Berry of Poepping, Stone, Bach and Associates, Keokuk.
Warsaw had its portion of the road rehabilitated last year with help from state funds. Much of the reconstruction was done by W.L. Miller Co. of Hamilton, Ill.
Berry said seeding along the right of way is finished. He has sent in a change order to the state for additional guard rails and awaits authorization.
He said work around a fire hydrant and a stop sign are still to be done and discussed putting new stripes on the road.
“It's kind of disappointing about the striping out there,” he said. “Essentially it is gone.”
Frank and city council members decided to try re-painting stripes one more time before considering a more expensive alternative to paint.
In other business the city council:
Heard that T-ball starts June 4 and goes for six weeks.
Was told the men's fast pitch team has revived the name, Stag Boys, and will have a reunion game on May 24. Former players are invited to return, play or watch the game and have refreshments.
Learned that Chris Roberts, the city's newly hired police officer, is in a two-week transition course in Champaign, Ill.
Had its sewer grant request for Mill Street turned down by the state.
Wants residents to call City Hall if they have a junk car that needs to be removed.
Received a mosquito spraying bid from the Village of Ursa and turned it over to committee.
Announced a citywide garage sale on June 13-14.
Directed three garbage bids to committee for further research.
Approved building permits: Tom Landis, 571 College Hill, 24-by-24-foot garage, $6,000, and permission to demolish an existing shed; Betty Jeffers, 520 S. 10th St., chain link fence, $120; Jeremy Conkright, 525 Mill St., siding on house, no value given; Eric Rhodes, 535 and 635 Clay St., demolition of house at 535 Clay and a 68-foot fence on the west side of the car wash, $150; Joe Thompson, 520 Clark St., replace siding on storage shed, $600; Josh Smith, 620 Jackson St., 21-by-22-by 8-foot garage and 128-foot replacement fence, $4,000; and Matt Heisler, 840 Webster St., 40-by-20-foot deck, $3,500.
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