By Jordan Puckett
Sun staff

New Richmond village council has voted to declare the properties at 1237 Bethel New Richmond Road and 206 River Valley Boulevard public nuisances.

“I’ve been working on trying to get this removed through the program the county has,” said village administrator Dave Kennedy of the property on Bethel New Richmond Road. “I found out if the village declares this a nuisance separately, that we don’t need both property owners to sign. Needless to say, this structure needs to come down. We’re trying to figure out a way to do it amicably.”

Councilman Paul Vanderbosch read a letter to council that had been left on his door. The letter was from a potential buyer for 204 River Valley Boulevard who was concerned about the property at 206 River Valley Boulevard.

Both resolutions passed unanimously. This authorized the village administrator to cause the removal of the unlawful conditions if the owner fails to do so within 45 days of notice.

Council also recognized Bill Marsh and Jim Hempfling of the cemetery board.

Marsh told council he and Hempfling had repaired 108 headstones in Watkins Hill Cemetery and a total of 519 stones in Greenmound Cemetery. They have worked on cleaning headstones after mowing and will be researching items such as the rules and regulations, records keeping, burial transits, and fees.

Council thanked Marsh and Hempfling for their participation and hard work they have already done.

In other news, police chief Randy Harvey reported that Sgt. Smith identified a total of 27 junk cars within the village. Twenty-four of these cars have already been removed and of the remaining three, two have already complied with certified letters they had received. This leaves only one remaining junk car in the village to be removed.

The next village council meeting will be help 7 p.m. July 9.