ELY- The Ely City Council declared the residence at 109 W. Conan St. blighted at its May 16 meeting, allowing the city to undertake clean-up actions if the owners of the property do not alleviate the condition within 10 days.
The property has a history of blighted conditions. The city council held a public hearing on the blight resolution before its regular meeting. During the hearing, Ely’s city building official Doug Whitney testified as to the nature of the blighted property and the complaints that neighbors have lodged with the city dating back to 2021.
Documents provided with the May 16 meeting agenda show that the city received complaints prior to the fall of 2021. The city inspected the property on Sept. 22, 2021, and cited the owners and the resident for blighted conditions.
The city reinspected on Oct. 26, 2021, and noted no improvement. After further complaints in 2022, the city reinspected on May 24, 2022, noting, “The blight conditions have not improved and are now worse. The blighted property with junk and garbage in front and rear of (the) single-family dwelling continues to pose a risk to public health and safety.”

Recent complaints
In his testimony before the council, Whitney summarized the current situation at the property. “We received numerous complaints, more recently with the snow leaving … showing the trash in the yard. The front yard and rear yard are covered with trash.”
The property was reinspected on May 1. The city then issued a “final notice of violation,” giving the owners seven days to clean-up the blighted condition or 10 days to lodge an appeal. The owners took no action before the May 16 city council meeting and did not attend the public hearing.
The owners of record of 109 W. Conan St. are Donald and Jeannie Krings and the current occupant is Kristen Krings.

Ely’s blight law
Ely’s city ordinances allow the city a variety of actions regarding blighted properties, including inspections and the issuing of violations and warnings. An additional provision allows the city council to impose a fine of $100 per day while a property is in violation of the blight ordinance. A fine was not imposed for the property of 109 W. Conan.
A final violation notice, like the one issued May 1, gives the owner seven days to relieve the blight or have the matter sent to the city council. After those seven days, the city council can issue a blight resolution, which can only happen after a public hearing.
Once a blight resolution has passed the council, the owner has one last chance to clean-up within 10 days. If the owner declines the last chance to mitigate the mess, the city can then legally enter the property and clean it up. All the costs of remediating the blight will be charged to the property owners.