It’s time for spring clean-up in Aurora, and then some

While driving around the community recently to look at the new Streeter housing subdivision and other projects reflecting positive growth and change, I couldn’t help but notice some properties showing serious signs of neglect. It’s a concern I’ve voiced before in this space, but without action from City Hall property neglect is creating a negative impact in some neighborhoods, which is not a good reflection on this proud community.
Driving down one single street not far off the square just this week, for example, I noticed one house with seven cars parked in the yard, driveway and/or street, while a few blocks away there was trash and miscellaneous items in various states of disrepair strewn all over the property. It’s not a pleasant look for the casual passers-by, and if you happen to live next door it’s got to be a constant source of frustration, if not a potential drain on your property values. Unfortunately, there are many such examples if you take the time to look around.
Not far down the road in Hampton, village leaders have had some success with this issue, passing ordinances that address both nuisance abatement as well as vacated properties. Phillips and Marquette are also working to clean up their towns and tackle issues related to abandoned and neglected properties.
Why not Aurora?
The City of Aurora has nuisance abatement and unlicensed vehicle ordinances on the books, so the question begs asking: Why are they not being enforced? Enforcing nuisance ordinances sends a clear message to local residents. That message: We have pride in our town and ask those who live here to reflect that pride in their own properties as well. It’s the Nebraska way of doing things, we like to believe, but apparently not for all.
Telling someone what they should do, or perhaps what they can’t do, on their own personal property isn’t a pleasant task in a small town, or any size city for that matter, to be sure. Especially in this day and age, some property owners may take offense at getting a letter requiring them to toe the line, which is perhaps why it’s not been considered a high priority by the Aurora City Council. There are ways to handle that delicate legal process, however, which would be worth considering if in fact that’s the hurdle preventing action from being taken.
Utilizing a third-party enforcement agency offers an approach that removes the potential for personal conflicts, politely but directly bringing issues to the attention of property owners through an enforcement entity to make them aware of public health and safety concerns, then outlining the steps that will be taken if nothing is done. Sending that message is sometimes all that’s needed, based on the Hampton example, but if not, there is a procedure in place to take the next steps, including, according to Aurora’s existing ordinances, misdemeanor charges and fines up to $500.
There are a lot of positive things happening in Aurora, yet this is an issue that’s been neglected far too long. There are already ordinances on the books to address nuisance properties and abandoned vehicles in Aurora, but without a call to action from local residents to enforce them our city leaders have shown no interest in poking a sleeping bear.
If you think this is an issue worth tackling, let your city council representative know, as this problem is simply not going to go away by itself. Aurora can do better.
— Kurt Johnson