FORT MADISON - A property owner in Fort Madison has all but threatened to sue the city over code harrasment.
Happyland Properties LLC owner Sean Rogers, out of West Burlington, said he's had enough of the city getting in the way of his property development.
Rogers said he's been building a case against the city for four years.
"This is Happyland Properties LLC declaring war. I'm done playing nice. I'm done being diplomatic. It's time for action and I'm going to take it.," Rogers said.
Rogers, who grew up in Fort Madison, said his company has invested about $1.5 million in the city and has property in close to 65 other communities and 14 states across the country.
He said Fort Madison is the only town that he has trouble with when it comes to building codes.
Rogers said he has requested meetings with city officials and has been ignored, as well as having appeal rights violated.
He said he's being harassed and is getting nuisance notices on properties he doesn't even own yet.
The City Council declined to comment on Rogers' complaints except to say that since he invoked a threat of a lawsuit, they had to refer him to the City Attorney Pat O'Connell who was attending the council meeting via zoom.
Rogers said he has invested $4 to $6 million in other communities because of the ease of doing business in the other cities.
"I'm super easy to get along with. I really am, until I'm not. And now it's time to not. I don't play fair, I don't. I play to win. Period," he said.
"I don't care what it costs me. I only care about embarassment and winning. I've given everyone the game plan."
He said he's planning to create chaos for the city with multiple lawsuits.
Building Director Doug Krogmeier, addressing another issue on property on Avenue G during his report, said the city attorney reviews legal filings on properties.
Rogers said he's been trying to work with the city for four years, but Councilman Kevin Rink, who's been on the council for longer than four years, told Rogers he'd never heard of him.
Rogers said now it's a challenge against the city.
"I don't have to do this, I don't. I don't need the money. I love what I do. It's fun and I like challenges, the bigger the challenge, the more I'm gonna rise to it. I win. Period," Rogers said.
Councilwoman Rebecca Bowker said that since he's contacted an attorney it silenced the council.
"We hear you and we appreciate your comments, but that attorney mention pretty much silences anything this council can do at this proceeding," Bowker said.
Beacon Schneider shows Happyland Properties has seven properties in Lee County assessed at just under $300,000, five of those properties are inside the city limits assessed about $180,000.
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Truthbomb
I don't know about others, but I'm surprised this hasn't happened numerous times before. It seems that in Fort Madison certain landlords get by with a lot more than others. I rented from my former landlords for nearly 4 years. There was not a single inspection on my initial apartment or my house that entire time---and there were definitely violations.
Yet Doug Krogmeier was bordering on harrassment with my mother's landlord after he bought her property in his "need" to do an inspection, even though that landlord's properties are some of the better rental homes (not apartments) in town because he does a good job with upkeep and hiring licensed people to do the necessary work.
I hope Happyland's suit shines a bright light on the shady practices of quite a few FM landlords get away with, not to mention how much pull the generations of 'the good ole boys club' have when it comes to city officials from the top down.
Thursday, October 20, 2022 Report this