County begins process to claim abandoned houses

Three different abandoned properties throughout Jasper County were the subject of discussion during the Dec. 21 board of supervisors meeting.

Earlier this year the county and community development director Kevin Luetters began looking for ways to address several abandoned properties.

The solution to this issue was found in Iowa Code Chapter 657A.

According to Chapter 657A, a building that has been abandoned by its owners for at least six consecutive months and is in a state of disrepair can have its title awarded to the city or county where the property is located.

“All of these properties have been untouched for a long time and are only getting worse,” Jasper County Supervisor Brandon Talsma said.

During the meeting, supervisors heard from Luetters concerning the future of three different properties: one already slated for demolition and two others that meet Chapter 657A’s abandonment criteria and whose filing petitions are up for approval.

The first of these properties to be addressed was at 1410 Jade St. in Kellogg, which is currently slated for demolition.

Possession of the Jade Street property was officially turned over to the county on Nov. 12 during a court ordered sale after the county filed a successful petition.The former owners, the estate of Charles Erwin Taylor, were ordered to hand the property over to the county due to abandonment and severe damage that was not addressed after the derecho in 2020.

Luetters presented three different demolition bids for the Jade Street property to the board: $15,750 from Lanphier Excavating LLC of Reasnor; $17,500 from Van Ryswyk Plumbing and Heating of Monroe; and $44,415 from Griffith Masonry of Kellogg.

The board accepted the lowest bid from Lanphier Excavating LLC.

“Mike Lanphier is ready to go if the weather cooperates with him. There will be a 10-day waiting period for an asbestos test, but after that the project should start almost immediately,” Luetters said.

And while an exact date has not yet been set for the demolition to begin, the bid contract states it must be completed by April 29, 2022.

“This property seems like a good investment for the county. Hopefully its location will attract buyers,” Talsma said.

Luetters continued his report, sharing more details about the two other properties that his department wants the board to approve filing abandonment petitions on.

The properties – one located at 3169 S. 80 Ave. W. in Monroe and another located at 8770 S. 76 Ave. E. in Sully – both meet 657A’s abandonment criteria.

“At the house in Monroe, nobody’s mowed the grass for years and just cause you pay your taxes doesn’t mean you haven’t abandoned it,” Luetters said.

Luetters also clarifed the costs of the attorney’s fees to file petitions and take possession of the homes all come out of community development’s budget. And once the homes are demolished and put up for auction the minimum bids for all three of the properties will likely be set at an amount that it will take cover these costs.

According to Luetters the opening bids for the properties when they are put up for sale will fall somewhere around the price of $7,500.

The board voted unanimously to allow Community Development to move forward with the two new Chapter 657A petitions.

“These are only the first three abandoned properties Community Development has filed for, it is likely that in the near future more petitions will be filed,” Luetters said.

Contact Abby Knipfel at 641-792-4687 ext. 6531 or aknipfel@shawmedia.com