Council hears reports on sewer backup, dilapidated properties and brush-dump fire

During supervisors’ reports at the May 3 meeting, Mayor Richard Clark and City Attorney Bob Breckenridge raised several public-safety and code-enforcement items for council attention.

City staff reported a sewer backup that requires repair; the council did not take immediate action beyond directing staff attention to the problem. Breckenridge said he is pursuing legal remedies for dilapidated houses — two properties are in court and five are pending enforcement — and said he had spoken with a Monroe County Supervisor Board member who indicated forgiveness of property tax on a former hotel might be possible, though no details or formal action were provided.

Street Commissioner Jeff Stephens reported that the brush dump had caught fire and is now closed; the council discussed the closure but took no emergency vote.

Council members did not vote on additional funding or emergency measures at the May 3 meeting; staff and the city attorney were tasked with follow-up work and reporting at a future meeting.