Tuesday, May 11, 2010

City crews board up rubbish-filled house

JONATHAN ELLIS

A long-running battle between the city and owners of a home in north Sioux Falls about rubbish and hoarding appeared to enter its final stages Monday.

City officials boarded up the home at 1122 N. Duluth Ave. and hauled away dump-truck loads of garbage and junk. The action came about a month after a circuit court judge ordered that the home either be brought up to code or demolished.

The city typically condemns several properties a year, but this case is more unusual because Donna and Royce Snook still were living in the home as of this past weekend. Usually, most condemnations occur on properties that are uninhabited, according to assistant City Attorney R. Shawn Tornow.

About 1 p.m., city crews arrived with dump trucks and a skid loader and began hauling away junk and garbage piled up in the garage and backyard. A strong odor of rotting garbage and musty furniture wafted through the neighborhood. Contractors were on hand to board up windows and doorways, and two police officers stood by to prevent conflict..." More

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