BY ROD ZOOK
Hutch Post
NICKERSON, Kan. — In a move that was unexpected by city officials, the Nickerson City Council voted to revoke a recent ordinance regarding upkeep of vacant homes and buildings.
Like before, the vote was 3-2 with one council member absent. It's the same 3-2 vote taken to approve the ordinance with again one member absent.
Under the ordinance, property owners with vacant homes or structures would have worked with the city to try and find either new tenants or owners for the vacant parcels. The city was willing to waive building permit fees and come up with other incentives to entice owners to make improvements or sell.
City Clerk April Beshears says the vote to revoke the ordinance came without any warning and no discussion during the meeting. Beshears says she will be meeting with the city attorney to find out where the city goes from here. Beshears says it's a little disappointing because she felt the city and property owners were beginning to have good dialogue over how to improve the housing situation. The city had sent out 22 letters to property owners involving 43 structures.
Beshears recently said that the ordinance was a work in progress because each housing situation was unique and the city was willing to work with owners to make adjustments as needed.
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