Monitoring nuisance properties is being seen as a challenge for the City of Wellman.

Mayor Ryan Miller asked City Administrator Kelly Litwiller if she’s comfortable with the current nuisance ordinance at their recent council meeting, to which she responded yes, but she is concerned with a lack of time to follow up with and handle nuisance properties. City ordinance states that the mayor or other city staff will send the property owner a written notice to abate the nuisance within a reasonable time, and if it is not abated and no request for hearing has been made the city will abate it and assess the costs against the person.

Council member Bob Goodrich suggested giving public works employees an extra $.50-$1 per hour to check up on nuisance properties and then mail an ordinance letter to property owners the next day. Litwiller says it’s been a “vicious cycle” for some property owners who clean their residences only to have it become a problem six months later. Litwiller says she will contact local church groups and the rotary club for volunteer opportunities to abate the properties, and the Mid-Prairie silver cord program was suggested as well.