Syracuse prepares fines, fees for vacant properties
Registration fees increase as long as the property remains vacant
By News Channel NebraskaSYRACUSE - Vacant property owners in the city of Syracuse are now going to be fined if the city deems the owners are not doing their diligence in maintaining and or selling said property.
City officials cite a state law that gives cities help in the matter of rundown commercial and residential properties.
Bruce Neeman, Syracuse city building and zoning inspector, is the designated administrator for this program. Each vacant building will need to be registered with the city.
The registration fee will be $250 for a residential property and $1,000 for a commercial property and payable 180 days after initial registration of the vacant property pursuit to the state law or 360 days after the property becomes vacant, whichever is sooner paid annually.
Supplemental registration fees at intervals every 6 months thereafter shall be due as long as the property remains on the vacant property registration database.
The supplemental registration fee shall be double the previous few months with the maximum supplemental registration fee of 10 times the initial registration fee amount. The registration fee shall be refundable for the year proceeding the date on which the property is no longer vacant.
The vacant property registration ordinance shall be enforced by municipal fines for failure to comply with its requirements of a $100 per day of violation, with some exceptions.
An ordinance regarding maintenance of dead and diseased trees was also adopted.
Sheriff Caudill presented the monthly sheriff's report. There were 62 calls for service for the month of December with 45 requiring a follow up incident report. The deputies logged in 411.3 hours for the month of December .There were 20 traffic stops, a hit and run, a traffic accident with injuries,
Thursday evenings in December had the most incidents.
Liza Godsey of Otoe was approved as a new member to the Syracuse volunteer fire department.
The city of Syracuse and the state of Nebraska department of roads have signed an agreement snow removal on Highway 50 through Syracuse.
Devlin Limbach and Ryan Rutar updated the city council on the Little Rivers Edge RV Park.
Limbach and Rutar purchased the property near 26th and J roads to construct a scenic campground. Their plans are to have 15 roll through rock and cement parking spots.
Electrical hookups, on-site water and dumpsters. The US Army Corps of Engineers has given permission for a limestone ramp to be constructed for access to the Nemaha River.
This will be a short term stay site, opening is planned for June/July 2022.
The mayor and council members applauded their efforts and are excited for this addition to the area.
Interim fire chief Keith McWilliams was given permission to begin researching and collecting bids for a new fire truck . Mayor Deb Dettmer ask for two council members to sit on a subcommittee for the fire truck specs, which will include council members Jerry Werner and Laramie Werner.
Value of improvements for the city of Syracuse from 2020 to 2021 has gone from 2.45 million to 8.1 million, this also includes the 1 mile jurisdiction.