City of Dike aims to abate downtown nuisance property

Like most eyesore properties in most small towns, discussions regarding Marcus Miller’s now-shuttered auto body shop on State Street in Dike have been ongoing for years without any substantial, permanent resolution. Will this time around be any different?
           
City officials are hoping so. They’re currently in the process of abating the nuisance, and Miller has until June 15 to satisfactorily tidy up the area before further litigation could be initiated.
           
“This isn’t anything we wanted to do, but he’s just gotten really behind again,” Mayor Mike Soppe said. “He’s always come in when we’ve asked and cleaned it up. We’re just asking him to do it all the time now.”
           
Locals know the property for its collapsed roof, scattered junk and vehicles sitting out front, and Soppe and the current city council addressed the issue yet again at the most recent meeting. Unsurprisingly, the matter is also listed on the preliminary agenda for the next gathering on Wednesday, June 13.
           
The mayor reiterated, however, that all communications between the two parties to this point have been civil in nature, and while no one is pleased with the current situation, he’s doing everything he can to reach an amicable resolution.
           
“I’m sure (Miller) is frustrated. There are city council members who have dealt with it as long as I’ve dealt with it that are a little frustrated, (and) I’m sure there are people who live nearby that are frustrated,” Soppe said. “Something needs to change.” 
 
Read the full story in this week's Grundy Register. Subscribe by calling (319) 824-6958 or clicking here.