The mayor of Manitowoc is explaining the city’s ordinances regarding unoccupied dwellings.
A listener asked on WOMT’s Be My Guest last week about the ordinances when someone has not lived in a house for years. Mayor Justin Nickels says the ordinance depends on the condition of a dwelling.
If the owner continues to pay for utilities like water and electricity, keeps their lawn trimmed, and pays property taxes, no one technically has to actually live there.
But if any of those items become neglected, that is when the city could act.
Mayor Nickels says that if residents are concerned, they should call the city.
“Let us know the address because that’s how we find out,” he explained. “We don’t have people who could just go around and look.”
Residents have asked if police could do more, but Mayor Nickels says that’s not their main priority.
“We don’t want to pay cops to be looking for that kind of stuff,” he noted. “We have other ways to deal with long grass, rather than having to pay police officers to do that. We want them focused on many other things.”
Complaints can be filed with the City Clerk’s Office in City Hall, which is open Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
You can also call 920-686-6950 to file a report.
