02-27-2023 CC (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Mounds View City Council February 27, 2023 Regular Meeting Page 4 on the matter and recommended the Council revoke the rental licenses. Council Member Lindstrom asked if the properties had no heat. Community Development Director Sevald reported this was the case. City Attorney Riggs reported this meeting would provide the landlord with an opportunity to address any questions the Council may have. He explained the Resolution before the Council would revoke the rental licenses per staff’s recommendation. Eric Halverson, 753 East County Road D in St. Paull, explained he has owned these buildings for the past 20 years. He stated the 5691 Quincy Street building was sold. He discussed how he has worked to clean these buildings up. He indicated the tenants within the building with no heat had been evicted. He reported the tenants were responsible for paying for their heat and electric. He noted the power was shut off by Xcel Energy and he had no access to the unit. He stated he had to involve the sheriff in order to get the tenants evicted. Council Member Meehlhause asked what building the tenants were evicted from. Mr. Halverson stated this was from the 5661 Quincy Street building. He questioned why he was losing the rental license for the two other buildings when only one building was a concern at this time. He reiterated that the 5691 Quincy Street property was already sold. He commented on how the City Council had moved people from a building on Hillview into his building. City Attorney Riggs clarified for the record that the City Council did not move any people into Mr. Halverson’s building. He explained rental licenses were revoked and these people were free to go wherever they wanted. He reviewed the issues with all three of Mr. Halverson’s properties. He indicated it did not appear Mr. Halverson needed his rental licenses because the properties were being sold. Council Member Meehlhause asked what kind of background checks Mr. Halverson was running on his tenants. Mr. Halverson discussed how COVID impacted renters and changed their rights. He reported it was very difficult to evict tenants now if they apply for any State aid. He stated these tenants knew they were evicted, were damaging the property, had not paid their utilities for some time and they were not allowing him access to the property. City Attorney Riggs explained City Code requires landlords to be in control of their property and it sounds like Mr. Halverson was not in control of the property. Mr. Halverson reiterated that he has been a landlord for 24 years and has been in the City of Mounds View for 20 years. He commented again on how tenants were impacted by COVID noting if they applied for any government aid they could not be evicted. City Attorney Riggs stated he was well aware of the governor’s orders and noted they were no longer in place. He reported this was not a valid excuse for what was occurring at this property. Mr. Halverson indicated he had to wait for a court date and they were 90 days behind.