Citizen's Complaints Investigated by Chronicle

IRONWOOD, MI - Monday, July 13, 2009 - Recently, Lou Bonagura featured an article on his IronwoodInfo.com site that discussed the current condition of a property he once owned at 632 McLeod Avenue. Today IronwoodInfo.com featured a letter to the editor from Ms. Terri Maki about the house. Here is her letter:

My name is Terri Maki and I live at 628 E. McLeod Ave.(the gold and white house in the picture next to the toxic dump of a house at 632 E. McLeod Ave.). I am thoroughly disgusted with the City of Ironwood, namely Scott Erickson. I have made numerous calls to Jason Alonen (the blight officer) about this situation since the first week of May. I have been told over and over again that they are working on it and that they have to follow the proper channels etc.

Finally, last week after months of seeing that nothing has been accomplished, I called the city manager Scott Erickson. His response to me was the same ol' song and dance answers of "I understand", "we are aware of it", "we must follow the proper procedures" blah blah politician talk.

My concern is not only with the field of grass or broken open windows and doors but also with the rotting garbage hanging out of the front porch and strewn from the front to the back of the house. I have witnessed stray dogs pulling the garbage out of the front door, skunks climbing out of the open windows, and cats coming out of the open basement door.

Is the city waiting for rats to come before cleaning this dump up?

There is a rotting deer in the kitchen, feces on the floor and god knows what else is in there. I pay taxes and keep my house in orderly condition and am subject to living a few feet from this disgraceful mess.

I can't entertain friends on my back deck anymore because not only is it an eyesore view of garbage but also the smell is horrendous on a windy day.

I would think the city should especially care that this property is located a few blocks from the Memorial building and is on a main downtown road.

I know that local people are used to seeing such laziness but what must out of town visitors think of our city? Does anybody care?

How did my taxes go up to the extent they did when my house value must certainly have gone down due to this dump I am subject to live next to?

I'm sick of it and I'm going to attend Mondays meeting to demand that the manager does what he's paid to do, MANAGE THE CITY!

Sincerely, Terri Maki

After reading Ms. Maki's letter, we decided to investigate the property ourselves. The photos in the slideshow above and the scroll below demonstrate the deplorable condition of the property.

What "proper procedures" need to be followed when a health hazard such as this exists? There is simply no excuse for any home to be in the condition this home is in. When conditions such as this exist, perhaps the City is not focusing on what is truly important. No neighbor should have to tolerate the rotting garbage and infested filth that exists "next door."

The City needs to quit harassing people over minor grass complaints and they need to start focusing on serious code violations that are creating health and safety risks to the general public.