Some citizens of Clinton have recently made inaccurate and unfair statements concerning the City of Clinton’s alleged “takeover” of Smith Brothers “Smitty’s” General Store, 1014-1020 South 4th Street.
Unfortunately, the City was left with no choice but to placard the structure, after sections of one of its walls fell into the right-of-way, endangering motorists and pedestrians. Under Iowa law and Clinton ordinances, the City may declare a building unsafe for habitation and prevent occupation of the structure until the unsafe issues are corrected.
In this case, the cost of repairing the building is vastly in excess of the building’s worth, and the owner simply cannot afford to fix it. While it may ultimately fall to the City to procure the building and incur the massive cost of taking down the building, that was never the goal or intention of City officials.
The City Council and City staff love and revere this storied local business and there is nothing City officials would like more than to find a way to save the building. Unfortunately, it appears unlikely that the large sum of money necessary to repair the structure and make it safe will be available, either through local taxpayer funds or through State grants.
This is an unfortunate situation, but it is inaccurate and irresponsible for citizens to suggest the City is acting in a heavy-handed manner. The City’s obligation is to keep citizens, including the occupants of crumbling structures, safe by any reasonable and lawful means possible. This City has no choice but to act in the most responsible and reasonable way possible.
