BLUE EARTH — Blue Earth City Council earlier this week held two public hearings related to houses in the city.

One hearing concerned an empty house at 906 Valley Drive. The purpose was to discuss the existence of public nuisance conditions and City Code violations at the site.

Representatives of the owners, Lakeview Loan Servicing, attended the meeting by telephone conference call. They reported how many repairs have been accomplished and said the house ownership will soon transfer back to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which is expected to sell the property.

The council voted at the end of the public hearing to adopt an order to abate hazardous building conditions at the house and said Blue Earth intends to enforce City Code in this case.

The second public hearing was a joint meeting with the city’s Housing and Rehabilitation Authority concerning a house at 419 E. Second St., owned by the HRA.

The purpose was to authorize transfer of ownership of the property to Habitat for Humanity of Faribault and Martin Counties at a price of $1.

After hearing no public comment, the council voted in favor of a property transfer ordinance to sell the house to Habitat for Humanity.

Members of the HRA, attending the meeting by telephone conference call, also voted to agree to the sale.

In other business, the council:

o Heard an update from Police Chief Tom Fletcher about a “spring sweep” city nuisance ordinance enforcement. He said there were 32 violations identified and 28 are now in compliance. They are still working with three property owners to come into compliance and have been unable to deal with one, who has been issued a citation.

o Heard an update from Public Works supervisor Jamison Holland about changes being made at the Blue Earth City Campground located at the city-owned Faribault County Fairgrounds. Besides adding five more sites, the changes include new rules for campers, adding WiFi and upping the nightly camping fee from $20 to $25.

o Voted not to increase pay for the mayor and council at this time. Current pay is at $3,000 per year for council members and $4,800 for the mayor.