OSWEGO — Chetopa Mayor Bob Boyd and City Clerk Amy Wilkinson visited with Labette County commissioners Monday about dilapidated homes in Chetopa, one of several topics discussed.
Boyd said abandoned properties get overgrown and become a problem because the city has to mow the lawns when the grass gets so tall even as the homes deteriorate. Owners live out of the state, generally, and are difficult to contact. The dilapidated homes cause additional issues because drug users and dealers move into these places and can cause other issues, Boyd said.
He said the city doesn’t have the money or manpower to maintain the properties, some of which are uninhabitable.
Boyd asked if the delinquent property tax sale would be happening soon and wanted to see a property list to determine if any of the problem houses are on the list.
The city places mowing charges on property taxes for the properties, but sometimes these charges are wiped out in the tax sale or in other transactions.
County Counselor Brian Johnson told Boyd and the commissioners that the tax sale will take place this year. The case was filed in January 2023. Tracking down heirs and owners can be time consuming. Johnson said he has everyone served of the properties remaining in the sale. There were 459 parcels when the case was first filed, according to the petition. Once he files his final paperwork and gets into court the judge will set the sale date.
Boyd also asked the county about removing deadwood from the pylons at the Neosho River bridge east of the city. Recent floods have added the deadwood to the pylons, which could cause problems. Johnson recommended Boyd contact the Kansas Department of Transportation with advice on how to proceed.
Boyd also told commissioners about electrical issues that the city is working to resolve and a 10-inch pipe that brings water into the city’s water tower. The pipe needs to be replaced and the project could cost $100,000, he said.
In other matters, commissioners: Agreed to pay Spriggs Contracting $7,420 to replace the south land on the stairs at the courthouse.
Approved a Neighborhood Revitalization Program application from Shannon and Candace Vail.
Met with Labette County Fair Board president Kayla O’Brien, who invited commissioners to the fair next Monday.
Approved accounts payable totaling $505,311.91.