Village Begins Clean-Up Initiative

Many in Dorchester already know the story, but we decided that the village's new clean-up initiative deserves to be reported by the Times.

The latest issue of the Southeast Nebraska Development District (SENDD) newsletter reports, "The Village of Dorchester has kicked off a new 'Nusiance Abatement Program' to encourage residents to clean up their properties. Dorchester officials are working with SENDD to help identify and notify resident of potential violations. The goal is to build community pride within Dorchester."

One community leader, who was once part of the Dorchester Times staff, said this initiative was "long overdue."  In an e-mail, he told the Times that since the late 1990s, Dorchester had turned a "blind eye to a small handful of property owners or renters" whose yards and homes "look like the county dump." (Those are his words, not ours.)  He wrote that the new notification program is a "clear shot over the bow" for those few residents "who refuse to uphold community standards and in the process bring down the entire town."

"There are more responsibilities to property ownership in a town than just paying the taxes," this individual e-mailed the Times.  "Just because you pay your property taxes doesn't mean you can live like Fred Sanford. Residents who don't want to clean up can always move to the countryside."

The SENDD story continues: "The first area of town to be assessed is (the area between) 7th Street to 11th Street and Washington Ave. to West Line."  The owners of properties requiring clean-up "will be notified by a certified courtesy letter from SENDD." 

"Residents in all areas of town are encouraged to keep their properties maintained," the story notes.  "Common concerns include unlicensed vehicles (including yard and boat trailers), auto parts, dead trees, brush, lumber and trash."

The village board will review properties with continued nuisance concerns at their regular board meeting in early October.  "For those properties not cleared, formal action may be taken and the property could be declared a nuisance by the board.  SENDD is the designated nuisance officer for this project."

One village leader, a business owner, told us that he agrees with the clean-up effort being conducted by village officials.  He added that he hopes people don't forget all of the improvements that have been made across town, including the main street electronic marquee, upgrades made to the city park, and repairs of the buildings along main street.