The Sabetha City Commission met at 6 p.m. Monday, May 8, at Sabetha City Hall. Present for the meeting were Mayor Cody Bletscher, Commissioners Norm Schmitt, Nick Aberle, Maridel Wittmer and Julie Burenheide, City Administrator Doug Allen, Assistant City Administrator Bill Shroyer, and City Clerk Steve Compo. Guests present were Jason Enneking, Megan Bunck, Kendall Bunck and Pete Schuetz.

Resolution 2023-07

The commissioners discussed Resolution No. 2023-07, which addresses code violations at 723 Virginia Street and 820 Florida Street The commissioners asked Schuetz — who lives at 723 Virginia Street — if he had any comments about the code violation at his property.

According to Allen, the code violation is for a vehicle that does not have updated tags or taxes.

Schuetz said the vehicle is movable, but he hasn’t tagged it or paid property tax on it.

“Maybe my neighbors don’t like the view, but I don’t think they understand, that is our secondary vehicle,” Schuetz said. “The one we drive is for our youngest son and when he leaves, he will take that [the one they currently drive] and that’s [the vehicle with the code violation] Amber’s vehicle. So it sits in our yard, on our property. We paid for it. I’m not here to harp on the violation because Chief [Robert] Wahwasuck has been very good and communicated very well with me that I need to move it.”

Schuetz continued saying he wishes the commissioners would talk to residents who have resolutions on their property to find out their story.

“My frustration is there has been no communication from the council [commission] about the car. You don’t know it’s a secondary car when my son leaves,” Schuetz said. “I’m not asking for anything from you guys, except for maybe more communication when people that you put in resolutions or you have code violations for to talk to them individually just to hear their story. Other than Chief [Robert] Wahwasuck, and maybe some close people in my circle, know the situation.”

“I feel bad that none of us have talked to you, but I’m glad that you came tonight,” Burenheide said.

Allen said it wasn’t personal and the City tends to ramp up addressing code violations in the spring.

Schmidt said he wanted to let Schuetz know that the commissioners hadn’t seen the resolution until recently, and they don’t come up until they are on the agenda.

After further discussion, Schuetz said he was going to contact the school district to see if he could donate the car to a senior in need of a vehicle. The commissioners said they would work with him and gave him 60 days to abate the car.

The commissioners approved Resolution 2023-07 as presented. See the legal notice on Page __ of this week’s Herald.

Also at the meeting:

The commissioners approved the minutes from the April 24 meeting and extended the burn dates to Friday, May 26.

The commissioners went into a five-minute executive session about personnel with the commissioners, Shroyer and Allen. There was no action taken following the executive session.

The commissioners will meet again at 6 p.m. Monday, May 22.