Three properties deemed health hazard

By MINDY KEPFIELD

Staff Writer

Cleanup efforts at three properties in Lost Springs deemed a health hazard by authorities are to start in a week, the county’s planning and zoning director Sharon Omstead said.

Resident’s complaints about trash, waste and debris piled around homes at 106 S. Berry, 103 E. Crane, and a nearby vacant lot spurred an investigation by Omstead and Toby Kuhn, an enforcement specialist with the state’s department of health and environment.

Steve Williams is listed as an occupant and controlling party of the properties by KDHE.

The properties were ruled illegal dump sites by inspectors and county commissioners agreed to team with the KDHE to clean them up.

The agency will reimburse the county for up to 75% of the cleanup costs.

“It will definitely be an endeavor,” said Omstead, adding the county is lucky KDHE is willing to help.

In small towns like Lost Springs, officials may have trouble enforcing city ordinances, she said.

“Even more trouble comes when they have no funding to hire a city attorney to deal with issues and they spin out of control,” Omstead said.

Road and bridge and transfer station employees will remove accumulated trash and waste at all three sites.

The county will keep track of the equipment, personnel and time spent on the project, but Omstead said she could not estimate how much their share of the bill would be.

Debris will be taken to the Butler County landfill.

“We will be mobilizing equipment and personnel that week,” Sharon Omstead said. “Nov. 9 is the date we are shooting for.”