By Sara StrongProperty owners who don’t comply with nuisance ordinances often slip through the cracks and leave the city little enforcement power. That will soon change with administrative citations on the horizon. The city of Luverne is considering the citations at this point, and hasn’t set the fine amounts yet.In the past, the city tried to get compliance through certified letters, letters delivered by the sheriff, and through the court system.It was mostly unproductive time on the part of Zoning Administrator Dan Delgehausen.Just to get through the letter-writing process usually took six weeks, since property owners often refuse to accept certified letters.Nuisance problems are usually things like unregistered vehicles in yards and other miscellaneous junk on lawns.Delgehausen said neighbors of nuisance violators feel like their property values are compromised and feel that the city doesn’t respond to their concerns.For example, the city has worked for two years with Luverne resident Richard Ward, at 411 N. Cedar. He didn’t show up to a public hearing on the nuisances and has gone through cycles of meeting compliance, and then not complied.Delgehausen said, "Usually, people tend to respond to fines, so this might be our best bet."Occupancy violationsThree times last month, people have lived in properties that didn’t have certificates of occupancy. For safety and insurance coverage reasons, property owners should know that occupying an uncertified structure is not allowed.Fines for occupancy violations vary by type of building: changing use of an existing building will be $150; failure to obtain certificate of occupancy remodeled and/or altered structure will be $250; failure to obtain certificate of occupancy of a new structure will be $500.The Luverne City Council hasn’t finalized this citation yet, either.
