House owner fined $200 for 'nuisance'

The owner of the big yellow Victorian house struggling against neglect and the elements was fined $200 in Red Willow County court Aug. 6, after having been found guilty in June of "maintaining or harboring a nuisance" at the house at 301 E. Second in McCook.

Judge Anne Paine told house owner Terry Jessen of Scottsbluff and McCook City attorney Nate Schneider that it's always been her opinion that repairing the place is preferable to paying a fine. "Both parties agree that some changes have been made," Judge Paine said, looking at photographs taken by both parties Thursday morning and entered as evidence. There is still some accumulation of what looks like wood in the house, she said, "yet there are clearly some improvements."

In March, Jessen and workers removed a sagging second-floor porch roof and took away construction debris from the house's interior. Paine told Jessen in June that she would take into consideration any improvements and changes made since Jan. 6, when the city officially filed the complaint.

Schneider told Judge Paine Thursday that while the yard has been mowed, there are still structural deficiencies in the house that remain unresolved. Jessen told the judge that he is confused by references to "structural deficiencies" because they were not addressed in the complaint, while items inside the house and the condition of the second-floor and first-floor porch roofs were. Those concerns have been addressed, he said.

Schneider told the judge it would be hard for him to quantify an amount for a fine. Jessen, acting as his own attorney, suggested a minimal fine.

Following his sentencing, Jessen said he has few plans for the house, other than to continue to try to sell it. The 110-year-old house obviously needs attention and work, said Jessen. "After years of neglect by previous owners, that's the condition it's in," he said.

City manager Kurt Fritsch said Tuesday morning that the city won't accept Jessen's offer to allow the city to demolish the house, while allowing Jessen to retain ownership of the land. "We're not considering it as an option," Fritsch said.