It's been more than a year since a fire destroyed the former bottle and can redemption center along Main Street in downtown Keokuk. The city is now using the court system to try cleaning up that site and five other properties.
The city detailed multiple violations of city code at the six properties in a series of filings in district court on June 10. They include failure to mow grass, failure to clean up yard junk, and a lack of utilities. The properties are:
- 707 Blondeau
- 728 Fulton
- 614, 616, 618, 624 Main Street
The buildings are all owned by either Bear’s Paw LLC or Lion’s Pride LLC. Each corporation is registered to Brian Boyd of 128 Golf Lane in Burlington, Ia.
Keokuk said it sent letters regarding the status of the properties to the owners but received no contact or response. The city said it has mowed, trimmed and cleaned up the residential properties, with plans to do the same for the commercial sites.
In the meantime, the city is asking the court to take several actions:
- Penalize the owner up to $250/day in violation (total not to exceed $5,000) plus court costs.
- Order the owner to cap the sewer/water lines and demolish the buildings. If that does not occur, the city wants the authority to demolish the buildings and charge the owner for its services.
- Threaten to hold the owner in contempt of court if violations re-occur within at least two years.
Boyd is scheduled to appear before a judge during two different hearings on July 13.
614 & 616 Main Street
- No Effort to Clean Property or Remove Junk
- No Utilities (Health & Fire Hazard)
- Windows - Broken/Unsanitary
- Abandoned/Not Secured Building
618 Main Street
- No Effort to Clean Property or Remove Junk
- No Utilities (Health & Fire Hazard)
- Windows - Broken/Unsanitary
- Abandoned/Not Secured Building
- Dangerous Building (Wall Collapsed)
624 Main Street
- No Effort to Clean Property or Remove Junk
- No Effort to Take Down Dangerous Wall
- No Effort to Fill In Basement
- No Utilities
- Abandoned / Not Secured Building
728 Fulton Street
- Failure to Mow Grass/Trim Weeds
- No Water
- Not Secured Building
- Failure to Clean Up Yard Junk
- Porch (Health/Fire Hazard)
707 Blondeau Street
- Failure to Mow Grass/Trim Weeds
- No Utilities
- Failure to Clean Up Yard Junk
- Abandoned/Not Secured Building
