Owner of old Wellington Junior High building has been cited for parking inoperable vehicles illegally
The owner of the old Wellington Junior High is being cited with inoperable vehicles. (Click to enlarge)
by Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow — Many believe the old Wellington junior high building, originally built as a high school in 1928, is becoming one of Wellington’s biggest eyesores.
And it was a hot topic of conversation at the January 19 Wellington City Council meeting.
The school district sold the building to George Dunan of Gold Nugget Properties in Meadville, Mo. in June of 2015 for $11,100 (see story here). The property at 311 N. A Street is now owned by Joseph Gallow of 20885 Scheeley St. in Perris, Calif. according to Sumner County assessor records.
While the current use of the building inside is a bit of a mystery, it does seem to serve at least one purpose these days: a place to park a collection of vehicles, some inoperable, in what was once the front entrance of the school.
Wellington City Council Robert Hamilton brought up the issue at last week’s meeting – inquiring about “Case 3606” — a code enforcement infraction toward inoperable vehicles on the property.
“I have had several complaints from people,” Hamilton said. “It looks like a junkyard.”
Wellington Director of Public Works Jeremy Jones said the city has been in contact with the owners.
“Our ordinance specifically states that for a car to be legally parked it has to be on a graded, paved or on an approved concrete surface,” Jones said.
The city issued a press release today to further clarify what constitutes legal parking in Wellington.
Sec. 40-620.- of the Code of the City of Wellington reads:
Off-street parking lots for single- or multiple-family dwellings, home occupations, schools, churches and similar places of public assembly, hospitals, nursing homes, boarding houses and lodging houses, dormitories, or fraternity and sorority houses shall not be located in any required front yard area, except that the access driveway may be located in a required yard.
Also:
Sec. 40-623.- Layout and design requirements reads.
(d) Surfacing. All open off-street parking and loading areas shall be graded and paved or otherwise improved with an approved concrete or asphalt surface.
In this specific case, Jones said, the owners are in violation of the ordinance since these vehicles are driven over a curb and parked on concrete meant to be sidewalks.
“This is clearly not a driveway,” Jones said.
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For questions or concerns, please contact the Building & Codes Dept. at (620) 326-3871.
