City council approves assessments and liens for multiple neglected properties, including $17,292.59 cleanup bill

Lincoln City Council voted unanimously Jan. 26 to assess fees and penalties against a list of properties for demolition, neglected-building registration and cleanup work performed by the city.

Sean Stewart, chief housing inspector for the Department of Planning and Development Services, told the council the assessed amounts reflect city costs incurred after civil injunctions and court-ordered cleanups. “They were the amounts minus auction that took place for some of the items and then recycling of some of the metals that we had collected from the property,” Stewart said, describing the accounting used to calculate the assessment. Stewart identified one specific cleanup cost as $17,292.59.

Resident Carol Dowling, who gave her address as 4218 North Park Boulevard, asked for clarification of what the assessment covered: “I don't understand what the assess of fees and penalties for property cleanup is for,” she said. Stewart replied that the charge reflected city expenses under a court-ordered cleanup, that there were no penalties on that specific item, and that the assessed amount becomes a lien on the property until it is paid.

A council member asked how the assessment is enforced and whether it appears on title searches. Stewart said the assessment is filed as a lien and will show up on a title search; it must be satisfied before the property can convey with a clean title, though the owner or a subsequent buyer may pay it off.

Council then moved to adopt a substitute Attachment A to the item (introduced Jan. 12) and voted to adopt the amendment and the main motion. The clerk recorded roll-call votes indicating each motion carried unanimously (recorded as 7–0). The council’s action directs the city to place the listed assessments and liens on the named properties.