Aldermen Target Neighborhood Speeders and Overgrown Commercial Property

Spat Over Mayor’s Appointments

By Pauline Masson – 

Officials took action last Tuesday to step up punishment for speeders on neighborhood streets and laid the groundwork for tackling one of the city’s most visible eyesores, the overgrown commercial site known locally as the Lazy Larry property. And Mayor Heather Filley chastised aldermen for failing to approve her appointments without saying why.

The announcement of taking a tougher stance on issues that have lingered for months, if not years, were discussed in the Nov. 18, board of aldermen (BOA) meeting weeks before the December 8 to December 30 window to file to be on the ballot for the April 7 municipal election.

Speeders

Speeders may expect to pay higher fines, maybe double, if caught driving above the speed limit on ten city streets.

The city attorney was asked to create an ordinance creating “special enforcement zones” for certain neighborhoods. 

If the bill is passed into law motorists would have to watch their speed on Candlewick, Cedar Drive, Cedar Field, Hawthorne, Indian Pride, Indian Warpath, Lamar Parkway, Lisa Lane, Silver Lake View, and Westlake Village Drive or face stiffer fines. Speed limit on the streets is 25 mph.

It was unclear how stiff the fines might be. The attorney was asked to review the city’s fine schedule and determine what would be appropriate in the special enforcement district and include the proposed fines in the bill.

Lazy Larry Property

Alderman James Cleeve triggered a lengthy discussion on the volunteer forest on West Osage, that he referred to the Lazy Larry property, and double fine for speeding on some seven city streets and spat over committee appointments.

“I’ve looked at it and looked at it and looked at it since I’ve lived here, and it’s been overgrown and all grown up, and I really would like to understand,” he said. “ t’s been subdivided into two lots. There’s a front lot and a rear lot. I will say that the lot that has the… Lamar Shopping Center was cut down and looks great. It’s amazing the difference it makes.”

“I feel like that’s against our city code, the way it’s sitting right now,” he said. “If I’m wrong, so be it. I’ll shut up and move on. But if it isn’t, then we need code enforcement to start enforcing the code.”

Mayor Heather Filley said code enforcement has sent notices to both of those lot owners. 

“As you can tell, one lot owner paid attention to that notice and took care of it, while the other one doesn’t appear to have. So code enforcement has done that,” she said. “I think we need to, as you said, see what other actions the city can take, other than continuing to send these notices that do potentially have fines.”

The property has unusual circumstances in that it is zoned commercial but assessed agricultural, which limits amount of tax the property owner faces.

Alderman Karla Stewart said she emailed the owners, the Overschmidt about the property and they responded.

“There is something about three-acre lots that they don’t have to do whatever everybody else does,” she said.

Mr.Cleeve said he recognized that the property was zoned commercial and assessed as agricultural. 

“I didn’t even know you could do that,” he said. “I I have no problem with it being agriculture as long as they level it off and actually get hay on it. Boom, it’s agriculture. I get that,” he said.

Attorney Jones said there are ordinances that provide exceptions for large lots three acres or greater. But only the area within five feet of any sidewalk or street still has to be cut.

Mr. Cleeve said if the property owner is doing what code says, the city really can’t argue.

Mayor Filley said there might be options for the city to take.

“I do think there’s still more that can be looked into with this, she said, especially with zoned commercial and assessed agricultural,” she said “There is such thing as called curbside appeal.”

Spat Over Mayor’s Appointments

In the meeting the five member BOA failed to approve yet another citizen to serve in an appointed position.

Mayor Heather Filley nominated Mike Vernace to fill the vacated Ward One BOA seat. Aldermen voted 3-2 to deny the appointment, with aldermen Cleeve and Hoven voted yes and aldermen Kelley, Stewart and Lesh cast the no votes.

Later in the meeting Mr. Hoven triggered a donnybrook over the denial of Mr. Vernace to fill the Ward One seat. He challenged the aldermen who voted no on the appointment to justify their votes.

He asked if anyone voting ‘No’ on the appointment would share what it’s going to take to approve an appointment of another seat.

“Ward 1 is not represented well.” he said. “Two candidates have been appointed now. Does anybody that’s voting ‘no’ care to share?”

Miss Stewart who represents Ward One took exception to the phrase that her ward was not represented well.

“It’s not that they’re not represented well, she said. “They’re not fully represented.”

Mr. Hoven offered a frosty reply.

“I’m sorry that your feelings were hurt. Is there anyone else who’d care to share on this topic as to why, what is it going to take to get somebody in here?” he said. “Is it because the people that are voting on it aren’t appointing it? Is that the reason? We’ve had two candidates. Your personal opinions aside, what else was wrong with them?”

Scott Less, acting board president took issue with the challenge..

“I haven’t heard a word about saying what the pros are (on the nominee). So instead of putting it on the people of the nays, how about we hear some pros?” he said. “No one reached out to me to say anything about this candidate. I didn’t get a phone number from him in the packet.”

Mayor Filley said she was going to end the conversation but Mr. Lesh resisted.

“I’m responding to Alderman Hoven, and I’d like to continue.,” he said.”He (Mr.Hoven) asked the question. “

“You also asked the question about getting information.” Mayor Filley said.

“I didn’t ask, I stated,” he said. “So I was just going to finish saying, how about the question is, what are the reasons for it?”

“I could give you reasons, but based upon what we’re seeing here, it’s not going to change anything,” Mr. Hoven said.

Mr. Lesh stood his ground.

“Mr. Hoven, you’re asking us to say why. I’m asking you to say why did you,” he said. “Instead of you asking us why we didn’t, turn it on yourself and make the case for it. What you’re trying to do right now is trying to make a political grandstand out of it.”

Mayor Filley called for an end to the fracas.

“I’m going to stop this discussion as it is right now from either party. If you guys would like to talk amongst yourselves outside of this meeting about appointments, by all means, feel free,” she said. “Just a reminder, this is my appointment. And respect of people’s appointments is key.”

But Ms. Stewart was not satisfied.

“I have talked to people who reached out to me from Ward 1,” she said.

“We’re moving on,” Mayor Filley interjected.

“He asked a question but you won’t let us answer his question,” Ms. Stewart said.

“Because it’s been going back and forth,” Mayor Filley said.

“Because you don’t  want to hear it,” Ms. Stewart said.

The mayor finally had the last word, asking Mr. Lesh if he had anything he wanted to report.

Author: paulinemasson

Pauline Masson, editor/publisher. View all posts by paulinemasson