City of Mitchell won’t release code enforcement letters

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Why did 35 downtown Mitchell property owners receive letters notifying them of code violations? The city of Mitchell won’t say. Not yet, anyway. Code Enforcement Officer Jeff Lanning declined to release copies of the letters to The Daily Republic on Monday. When first asked, Lanning said he wasn’t sure if he could release copies of the letters, which were mailed on Friday.

Lanning then checked with Mayor Ken Tracy and said printing the letters would be costly for the city, and he also wanted to make sure the property owners saw them before a story appeared in The Daily Republic.

The Daily Republic offered to cover any printing costs.

Lanning promised to release copies this afternoon or Wednesday morning.

In a Daily Republic tour of downtown Monday afternoon, employees at most businesses said they either had not received letters or did not know if one had been sent to the property owner.

Some said the owner of the building lived out of state.

Carma Popp, owner of The Pin Cushion, said she and her husband had received a letter. Popp did not disclose what they were cited for, but said it would be corrected.

Connie Henning, owner of The Framer, said many buildings and businesses in downtown are in good shape, but any improvements are just part of doing business.

“I think it’s a good deal,” Henning said.

She has owned her building, which includes the business and an upstairs apartment, for 27 years, and said she has invested thousands of dollars to keep it in good condition.

One business owner said she had received a certified letter from the city but had yet to open it.

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