Sparta to clean up city's appearance

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Steps were taken in Sparta Monday to improve the overall appearance of the city, a concern worrying a number of residents who spoke out at a city council meeting.

The Sparta Board of City Commissioners declared properties at 219 W. College Street and 217 N. Zine Street to be unsafe and abandoned as a first step toward removal and cleaning up of the lots.

The code enforcement officer will be assigned to address a home with a blue tarp covered roof, and the street department will check into a clogged ditch filled with standing water that's not draining.

The board amended the zoning ordinance to change property owned by Gary Heller on Janet Avenue from business zoned property to residential zoned property.

The new Sparta Memorial Downtown Park was officially designated as a park by the board.

The board amended the cemetery codes to affect a number of fee changes. The cost for a lot in a new section of lots which will open soon was raised from the previous $400 to $600.

The city has been losing money when required to open a grave, as the process costs the city $425 and the fee is only $410. So, the commissioners upped the charge to $435. The board also passed an ordinance requiring a $25 fee to locate a grave and an additional $25 for locating a headstone.

Building permits were issued to Jennifer Schneider to erect a fence, Matthew Bowen to add on a porch, Ron Steen to build a shed, and Larry Lee to put up a carport.

Henry Hartmann was reappointed to the Municipal Civic and Cultural Board.