Denny Olson has a contract with the city of Albert Lea to mow the lawns of foreclosed and/or vacant properties. He has had the contract for three years and this year his was the only bid. Though the city work is a small percentage of his business, it’s causing Olson some headaches.

“Last year, the city called me to mow a property on West Clark Street,” said Olson. “The yard looked pretty bad. There was a garden shovel lying flat in the yard. The grass was so tall I didn’t see it. The shovel got caught in my mower blade and it tore up the drive shaft. It cost me $350 to have the drive shaft rebuilt.”

Olson’s struggles are only one part of the often complex problems that develop when homes are in foreclosure or vacant.

It’s a mechanical process said Albert Lea Attorney John Harreid, who works with local and out of town banks, when properties are in danger of foreclosure. “Local banks will give homeowners a lot of rope,” Harreid said. “They don’t want to see anyone lose their home, and they definitely don’t want to get these properties back.” The banks contact local attorneys, among them John Harreid, who attends sheriff’s auctions of foreclosed properties and is authorized to make bids on the properties, on the approval of the banks. “A lot of people got in trouble because they didn’t understand what they were getting themselves into,” Harreid said. “I attended one local auction where the homeowners mortgage was $151,000 and I was authorized to make a bid of $87,000 for that property.”

Bitterness at losing their homes to foreclosure can result in property damage Harried said. “We’ve had a few cases of people tearing things up when they’re facing foreclosure,” Harried said. “But it’s not nearly as bad as what we’re hearing about in other parts of the country.”

The Albert Lea Police Department checks on foreclosed properties, Chief Dwayne Winkels said. “Each of our officers is assigned a sub-district in the city,” Winkels said. “Officers canvass all properties for unmowed grass, yard trash, and abandoned vehicles.” A form describing the problem is then filled out by the officer, said Winkels. Officers then try to contact the property owners. “Last month half of our problems with uncut grass concerned foreclosed properties,” Winkels said. “If our officers cannot make contact with owners of problem properties, I call Mary Schroader.”

Schroader is a Community Service Officer with the police department who continues trying to contact the property owners. “We can use tax and utility records to track them,” Schroader said. “If the property is for sale, we contact the Realtors. Once contacted, owners have 10 business days to fix the problems. If nothing happens by that time, Denny Olson gets the call.”

“We are being proactive on this,” said Chief Winkels. “This is our first year of doing these property canvasses.” The city fire department handled the situation in previous years. “We had to hire staff, develop policies, and work with the city attorney on making this transition,” Winkels said.

Winkels said cooperation from property owners has been excellent and the high price of scrap metal is reducing their costs. “When our officers talk to property owners who have abandoned cars and other metal in their yards, we tell them that scrap metal dealers will give them a good price for it,” Winkels said. “They will come and haul it away.” The money earned can help defray the property owners costs for cleaning up their yards, Winkels said.

Denny Olson has a had a tough time with the transition to the city’s new system. “This year the city did not let bids for mowing until June 16, so we didn’t start mowing until June 21,” said Olson. “By then, the grass was often way past the city standard.” Albert Lea has a minimum standard of nine inches before it is in violation of city ordinances. In previous years that he has had the contract mowing bids were let in early June, Olson said.

“We have to mow the grass twice and rake it,” Olson said. “It is a lot more time consuming. We are using more gas this year than last, and it’s hard on our equipment.” Olson has worked in the lawn care business here for 28 years, in addition to working full time at the Albert Lea Good Samaritan Society. “I don’t expect to make any money on the contract this year,” Olson said. “I know the city is trying to be fair to everybody, but it has been tough for me.”

Olson admits that cleaning up foreclosed and vacant properties has its satisfactions. “We also trim trees and shrubs,” Olson said. “We try to make it look like someone lives there by the time we’re done. The neighbors of these foreclosed properties really show their appreciation. We get a lot of thank yous.”