Clear Lake awards $113,800 contract to abate ten nuisance properties

The Clear Lake City Council on June 27 authorized the city manager to execute a contract with Case Excavating for demolition and abatement work at ten properties citywide, in an amount up to $113,800.

Code-enforcement staff described each property as an ongoing health-and-safety hazard with multiple compliance inspections and administrative citations issued over several years. Several properties involve travel trailers, hoarding conditions and at least one burned structure; one property required special handling because of lead and asbestos concerns.

Code Enforcement Supervisor Lambert told council the cases had been open as long as 2018 and the city had provided multiple opportunities for voluntary abatement before bringing the contract forward. The report notes that warrants for abatement had been prepared and that the contractor planned to begin work soon; the procurement included a mandatory pre-bid meeting attended by seven companies and three bid submissions.

Council voted unanimously to award the contract. Staff said the contract requires the contractor to begin before the end of the fiscal year and that typical completion time for the bundle of ten properties would be under 30 days if work proceeds continuously. The city will attach liens for abatement costs to the properties as permitted by ordinance.

City staff emphasized this action is a last-resort expense paid from the general fund rather than an ongoing grant or special fund; the council approved the measure after confirming the contractor was the low bidder and could meet the 30-day completion requirement in the contract.