Kaplan mayor gives resident last chance to keep yard clean

KAPLAN — At last month’s Kaplan city council meeting, Mayor Mike Kloesel informed resident Aubrey Gallet that he is frustrated with repeatedly addressing the condition of Gallet’s yard during condemnation hearings.
The council reviewed photos of the property at 805 North Lejeune Avenue, prompting a condemnation hearing.
Gallet, who is a renter, told the Mayor and Council that his property no longer looks like the photos.
“The photos on the iPads do not look like that anymore,” the resident said. “I have had numerous cleanups, and the council is more than welcome to go look.”
Mayor Kloesel acknowledged Gallet’s recent efforts to clean the property but expressed frustration over the recurring need to address the issue.
“Aubrey, the problem that I have is that we are at the point where we require you to come to the meeting,” said the Mayor. “This is not the first time you are here. We have had discussions time and time again. Your neighbors have complained, and you cleaned it up.”
At the time of the meeting, Gallet had loaded a trailer with items to remove from his yard.
Mayor Kloesel noted that throughout his seven-year term, he has received ongoing complaints from neighbors regarding the property at 805 North Lejeune Avenue.
“You can not keep trashing it out. It is fine if you want to live like this, but you are going to have to do it outside of the city limits,” Mayor Kloesel added. “You can not continue to do it in the city limits.”
The Mayor also stated that repairing or storing wrecked cars at a residence violates city ordinances.
The Mayor reminded Gallet that he is a “good person” and a “man of his word.” But the Mayor said, “It has to stop.”
Gallet explained to the council and the mayor that he plans to keep the property clean.
Following the Mayor’s recommendation, the council chose not to condemn the property. However, this served as a final warning to Gallet.
“If this happens again, I am going to recommend they condemn the property,” the Mayor explained.