City enlists partner to deal with nuisance properties, enhance safety

Erica Bush is the designated nuisance officer for McCook.

Courtesy photo

McCOOK Neb. — To enhance community appearance and uphold safety standards, the City of McCook contracted with the West Central Nebraska Development District (WCNDD) this year to address nuisance properties in the city. During a recent interview, Erica Bush, the designated nuisance officer for McCook, detailed the program’s progress and objectives.

Bush explained that this is the first year that McCook has contracted with WCNDD to act as their nuisance officer. “At the end of April, we conducted an initial property review, dividing the city into sections. McCook chose one section to focus on first.” WCNDD is based in Ogallala, Neb., and serves 18 counties.

The initial assessment, a northwest portion of town, involved a thorough “windshield review” by Bush, who personally evaluated each property in the selected section for visible nuisance violations. These violations could range from unlicensed vehicles to improper storage of items.

For properties identified with issues, courtesy letters were sent out, informing owners of the specific problems and providing snippets from the city’s ordinance alongside photos as evidence.

Bush noted, “These courtesy letters are not mandated by state statute but serve as a helpful heads-up for property owners. The properties remain confidential until the city council publicly declares them nuisances.”

With over four weeks granted for property owners to address the concerns, Bush conducted a second review in early June. Of the 110 courtesy letters sent, 52 properties had resolved their violations. “We saw a significant response,” Bush remarked. “It’s encouraging to see almost 50% of the properties clear themselves without further action.”

This collaborative approach emphasizes communication between officials and residents. “We always encourage property owners to reach out. The majority of the time, when they understand the purpose and process, they’re much more willing to cooperate,” Bush stated.

WCNDD is paid a predetermined amount when a city contracts them to work in a section of the community. “It doesn’t matter if we go into the community and we have one nuisance property or if we have 110 Nuisance properties; it doesn’t matter how many become declared,” Bush said.

Health and safety are priorities, with Bush reiterating the importance of fair and equitable treatment across all sectors of the community. “We don’t discriminate based on personal affiliations; each property is assessed objectively,” she affirmed. “If there are violations, everyone receives the same notice.”

Upcoming assessments are planned, with Bush noting that reviews will continue in August; Bush completed the latest assessment on July 8, 2024.

It is important to note that WCNDD does not decide what constitutes a nuisance; it is based on the city ordinances already in place. The nuisance officer does not leave their car; they base their assessment on a “windshield review,” meaning they do not leave the vehicle. It is based only on what is seen from the street and alleyways. If WCNDD is contracted to work with the city in 2025, they will work in a different city section. The city council will vote on it and be made public months before the first windshield review. For more information, contact the city at 308-345-2022 or WCNDD at 308-284-6077.