City officials grapple over how to deal with nuisance properties

Ritzville City Council members, Mayor Gary Cook and other city officials had a contentious discussion at the July 2 council meeting on how the city should address properties that have been found to be not in compliance with the city's nuisance ordinance.

The council received an update from compliance officer John Hunt on two of the properties that had been granted an extension at a prior city council meeting. The extensions were essentially a good-faith gesture from the council to the owners of the property, allowing them more time to become fully in compliance with the nuisance ordinance. Acc...