The Detroit Lakes City Council saw its fair share of nuisance abatements Tuesday evening.
Unlicensed inoperable vehicles in five locations, accumulated debris at two locations and lack of maintenance and sanitation at one house rounded out the list.
By the time of the meeting, several vehicles were moved and several residents got an extension until the end of June to clean up their property.
Extensions were granted for outdoor items and debris at 715 Bowling Ave. and for property along Brainard Blvd. and Longview Drive.
Property at 815 Rossman Ave. was ordered to be abated immediately.
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Residents there did not attend the meeting.
According to the council agenda, the nuisance was created by the "accumulation of animal feces in the basement, living room, kitchen and upper bedroom floors, etc."
According to the letter Building Official Cal Mayfield Jr. sent to the residents, the abatement was being considered also due to "the determination of the ability to operate the kitchen sink was not able to be completed due to stacks of dirty dishes in the sink, on the stove, on the cabinet, the floor, the couch and in the porch."
"This is nasty," Building Official Cal Mayfield Jr. told council members Tuesday evening after pausing for the right word.
He said a lot of the items accumulating have been placed in garbage bags, but those bags are still in the house because the resident can't afford to have the garbage truck come haul them away.
The point that hit the council though was that the resident's 3-year-old granddaughter comes to the house often.
"It burns my eyes just going in. I can't imagine what it's doing to her," Mayfield said.
The council approved abatement of the property and to contact social services about the granddaughter being in that environment.
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Also at the council meeting:
- Council approved allowing Go After Ministries "The Door" to conduct Saturday night concerts and Wednesday night activities at 90 West Lake Drive. They are also allowed to exceed the noise limits on July 4.
