Monticello council moves on property abatement

By Kegan Arduser

Express Sports Editor

At the city of Monticello’s regular council meeting on Feb. 2, Curt Kass, owner of 526 and 530 North Chestnut Street, presented an appeal to an abatement notice he received in mid-January. 

The council opted to give Kass two more months to clean up his properties. 

The notice came after an initial notice in April 2025 filed by the city, citing the deteriorating condition of Kass properties. Police Chief Britt Smith said from May-Dec. 2025, he kept in communication with Kass and discussed plans to make repairs to the deficiencies at the North Chestnut properties, which include siding, window, roof and dead trees. As progress slowed, the city sent a notice of violation and order to abate The notice requires an appeal process, which Kass chose to use.

In Kass’ appeal request, he asked for a new deadline of April 20 to make repairs and get the property up to code. 

Council member Dave Goedken said he thinks the council should stick to the original deadline and “if there’s a fine that is imposed, then let’s get started.”

Council member Mary Phelan asked Kass what the challenges have been in making the repairs

“I apologize, I know I haven’t gotten it done as fast I could, I work construction and factory at nights, and I’ve been struggling with money too,” Kass said at the Feb. 2 meeting. “I’m confident I can get it done by the deadline. I talked to some brothers, they will come help me. But it’s time and money that I’m struggling with right now and I’m not proud of it.”

Smith said if the council held firm to the original deadline, which has already passed, the city would be looking at a court hearing toward the end of February. Smith added that it may get into March before any fine would be imposed.

“My thought is that if you give him the April 20 deadline, and he doesn’t get there, then we’re in a spot in April where we are back here having the same discussions,” council member Josh Brenneman said.

Smith said if the city choses to enforce the fine, it would give officials the ability to enforce the improvements. Then, if the deadline was met, the city could dismiss the case at its own expense.

Several neighbors to Kass’ properties expressed their dissatisfaction with the properties’ deficiencies.

At the end of the discussion, City Administrator Russ Farnum recommended a motion that council direct Smith to proceed with the enforcement action and bring it back on the April 20 council agenda to weigh Kass’ progress at that time and discuss the chance to take it to court or continue proceeding with the enforcement action.

The council approved Farnum’s recommend motion.

Other council news

• The Council approved a resolution for the purchase of a sewer jet truck that Water/Wastewater Superintendent Jim Tjaden said would be in town in the next couple of months. 

• Two resolutions were approved regarding a MinnTex expansion project. The first was a resolution approving the scheduling of a public hearing for Feb. 16 at 6 p.m. on the addition of the MinnTex expansion as a project in the urban renewal plan and on development 

agreement. The second was approving a MinnTex expansion site plan.

• The council approved Police Chief Britt Smith and the Monticello Police Department to move forward in the City’s K-9 Program. Smith said the department has a lead on a K-9 dog for the department, as well as equipping one of the department’s current vehicles to be fit for the K-9.

• All three readings of an ordinance to increase ambulance fees were approved by council. The rates were suggested by PCC, the billing company, and are the published rates from Medicare.

• Following the regular meeting, the council held a work session with Snyder Engineering on the Iowa DOT improvements request for Highway 38/Oak Street due to school expansion.

The city is just beginning to look at this project and work with the county, DOT and the school district. The council, along with City Engineer Patrick Schwickerath and Nathan Kass used the work session to go through the DOT’s requests, the alternatives and the estimated project costs.