Pay sought for items taken in cleanup
Staff writer
A Burns couple hopes to collect for items seized when the city hauled off property at their residence two years ago.
Michael Bass and Angela Dilks filed suit Aug. 26 against the City of Burns and Mayor Mike Hammann.
Bass and Dilks claim that Hammann, city employees, city council members and the Burns police department, accompanied by workers from H6 Excavation Co. and Heartland Towing, showed up at their property July 22, 2023, and proceeded to clear it by removing items.
When the couple protested, police detained Dilks, who later was treated at an El Dorado hospital for injuries to her arm and wrist.
Dilks and Bass claim that workers returned Sept. 1, 2023, to clear more property.
The group left after Bass and Dilks said they were trespassing.
Bass and Dilks contend that items taken included five vehicles, car trailers, an assortment of car parts, storage lockers, windows, claw-foot bathtubs, tools, tires, lawn mowers, toys, propane bottles, lawn chairs and décor, and numerous other items.
The couple seeks an order that they are entitled to vehicles removed from their property and to payment for damage to their property and personal items taken from them.
The cleanup came after the Burns fire chief cited them for the condition of their property March 9, 2023. They were cited after clutter allegedly prevented firefighters from extinguishing a fire before it spread to adjoining property. Dilks was ordered to abate the problem within 10 days.
After a public hearing, council members passed a resolution that if the property was not brought into compliance with city ordinances, the city would have it cleaned up.
Bass asked for more time to abate the nuisance, but council members declined.
Dilks complained that Joel Womochil, the police chief at the time, had injured her when he physically moved her while she was standing in front of cars.