Kaplan council condemns two properties; owners have 30 days to clean them

KAPLAN - During the city council meeting on Tuesday night, the Kaplan City Council conducted five condemnation hearings and decided to condemn two of those five houses. This means the homeowners have 30 days to tidy up their properties, or the city will bring in a contractor, and the costs will fall on the property owners.
The city council voted to condemn the property on North Herpin Street and West Veterans Memorial Drive.
Both homeowners will receive a certified letter from the city letting them know their property has been condemned. If they do not clean up their property to the mayor and council’s standards within 30 days, the city will hire a contractor to remove the unwanted items. The owner will get the bill, and if it is not paid, the city will place a lien on the property.
“It needs a lot of work,” said Mayor Kloesel. “The landowner has a lot of stuff in the yard.”
There are small trailers, broken vehicles, and other items on the property on North Herpin.
Councilman Mike Renfrow recently drove by and saw that some progress was being made to clean up the property.
“Progress is being made, but my biggest complaint is the fence,” Renfrow said.
The landowner received a public notice inviting him to Tuesday’s city council meeting, but he did not attend.
“I really wished he would have attended the meeting,” Renfrow said.
Councilman Randy Campbell added, “Had he come, we could have helped him by giving him more time. But he is not here.”
The council also voted to condemn the property on West Veterans Memorial Drive.
The council gave the landowner at 502 North Frederick more time to clean up. He attended the meeting and shared his plan to tear down the house, starting on August 4. The council gave him until November to finish the demolition and remove the wood.