Matzke addresses neighborhood crime

When does the City of Hastings finally figure out that we need to start taking care of our historical district. Are we just going to ignore we have a historical district altogether and keep dumping in rental residences?”

Todd Matzke, Hastings resident

City Administrator speaks to residents' crime concerns

That really is a matter of law enforcement and calling the police department when there’s an issue. If there’s a criminal matter, that should be a call to 911 and would certainly be addressed. If it’s more of a property maintenance issue, that first call should be to code enforcement. Potentially it may be something that can come up with every three-year rental inspection.”

City Administrator Dan Wietecha

Folch hopes to see neighborhood watch brought back

I know our police department has a lot on their plate, but I think it would be wonderful to have a community watch group in this area. If we could pivot again to developing this kind of programming, I think it would really help.”

Councilmember Tina Folch

Hastings City Council approval of a minor parcel subdivision on Ramsey Street at its meeting Monday, Sept. 4 turned into a larger discussion on crime problems in that neighborhood and rental properties in the city. 

After discussion, the council unanimously approved splitting the parcel at 1012 Ramsey Street into two lots. A two-family home will be built at the center of the lot, which is vacant after a fire started by lightning forced the leveling of the single-family home that had been there. 

A public hearing was held before the Hastings Planning Commission on the plan. Neighbor Todd Matzke, 1018 Ramsey St., spoke during the public comment portion of the council meeting, opposing the division of the lot. 

Matzke served two years on the Planning Commission and said he doesn’t believe the city process for such land splits serves neighbors well. 

“I don’t think the city council hears the people,” he said. 

Matzke said Ramsey Street has parking on just one side of the street and the development could force more vehicles on the street. Also, he expressed concerns with the possibility the building could become rental units, as well as crime problems in the area. 

“I realize the city council cannot really address this because they do not have an ordinance for this. We feel this will become a rental property, further exasperating our issues for the block,” Matzke said. “We have many issues with rentals in the area. I myself have been broken into multiple times because of poor rental management.” 

He said vehicles stolen elsewhere have been brought to a residence in the neighborhood. 

“We’ve had multiple cars dumped on our neighborhood. I’ve called the police at least three times in the past year because of the number of cars that were dumped. We’ve had burned-out cars,” Matzke said. “When does the City of Hastings finally figure out that we need to start taking care of our historical district. Are we just going to ignore we have a historical district altogether and keep dumping in rental residences? We want single-family residences. We want single families in there. I realize that the city process is such that nothing can be done because we do not have an ordinance against rental properties, nor do I believe the city wants to have an ordinance because they feel it would limit growth.” 

He feels that’s something the city should look into for some neighborhoods. 

“I do feel we need to have some sort of process in place to limit the number of rental properties that could be clumped together in one block,” he said. 

He said the Planning Commission gets the information from city staff and “is just supposed to rubber stamp it and move it onto council,” said Matzke. “We need to listen to what our citizens are saying.” 

City Administrator Dan Wietecha said the parcel is zoned R-2, which allows for it to be split with the two-family home on it. He said that way, it can either be sold as two single-family residences or each side could be rented out. 

“The expectation is that it makes it more marketable to sell two sides rather than as a property with two units in it,” Wietecha said. “The zoning district certainly allows as a permitted use, a twin home on it.” 

Wietecha said the public hearings are held before the Planning Commission as specified by state law, and all neighbors within 350 feet are notified. 

Wietecha urged neighbors to call the police as to crime issues. 

“That really is a matter of law enforcement and calling the police department when there’s an issue,” he said. “If there’s a criminal matter, that should be a call to 911 and would certainly be addressed. If it’s more of a property maintenance issue, that first call should be to code enforcement. Potentially it may be something that can come up with every three-year rental inspection.” 

He said the city also is working to update its code enforcement ordinances “to tighten up ordinances.” 

Councilmember Tina Folch, who represents the Ward 1 neighborhood, noted that the new two-family residence would fit the area where there are townhomes and another twin unit. 

“I think that this request is conducive to the area surrounding this particular parcel,” she said. 

She noted that many homes in the neighborhood are older and very large. 

“The housing stock there is rather old. I believe the house that burned down that had been on that lot was 100 years old if I’m not mistaken,” she said. 

Also, the houses are very large, and famines aren’t as big as they used to be. 

“And also being an older stock, they also make an opportunity for folks to purchase those and fix them and make them rental facilities,” said Folch. “I can understand the opportunity, why the owner of that parcel would be looking to divide it and create two units on it.” 

She said it also brings more homes “that are at a cost point that more individuals can actually afford them.” 

Folch said prior to the pandemic, residents in the neighborhood gathered to start a neighborhood watch, and she’s like to see that idea brought back to life. 

“I know our police department has a lot on their plate, but I think it would be wonderful to have a community watch group in this area,” said Folch. “If we could pivot again to developing this kind of programming, I think it would really help.” 

Councilmember Lisa Leifeld pointed out there are many reasons people rent, whether they’re young or older and transitioning from their home to something smaller. 

“When we throw around the term of affordable housing, rental is a very big piece. People need a spot to live,” she said. “There are an awful lot of awesome renters that take pride in where they live.”