Levi Trailer Court has city's attention

FORT MADISON – The Fort Madison City Council is turning an eye toward a dilapidating trailer court in the city.
The Levi Trailer Courts, located near Avenue M between 15th Street and 15th Place, were on the council’s agenda for discussion Tuesday, and Fort Madison Mayor Matt Mohrfeld said the time was at hand to take action.
“We need to look at action. What’s going on there is unacceptable,” Mohrfeld said. “We need to look at what the city as a whole can do to try and stop the deterioration of that part of town."
City Manager Laura Liegois said she has not been able to make contact with anyone associated with the utility bills in those parcels.
“There are several different parcels that have been owned by different owners, and the last owners have deceased, and a family member has been assisting with this property to our knowledge,” she said.
Over the last several years she said utilities have been shut off and that violates vacant property ordinances.
She said Fort Madison Police have been called 211 times since 2020 and the city fire department has been dispatched 42 times. There have been 13 formal nuisance complaints sent by certified mail representing more than $5,000 since 2020 in nuisance assessments.
There were also 26 nuisance and maintenance concerns in 2025 alone.
“I’ve personally tried to reach out to the person that’s responsible at this point and have not been able to make contact. The phone record is not available,” she said.
City Attorney Pat O’Connell said he hesitated to provide too much detail as the city could end up in litigation over some parcels at the trailer court.
“We’re in the process of tendering notices to not only the property owner, but the lot owners with specific issues. That would proceed to a trial or at least a court action which may have a trial or get resolved. I would suspect a trial because of all the players involved,” O’Connell said Tuesday night.

He said no court filings have been done, and no formal notice has been provided from the court.
“I just don’t see all these different players stipulating to what we want done,” he said. “The message I think I want to send is that I understand the situation very well and I understand aggression is probably required here – the situation has really gotten out of hand.”
He said the next step, if lot owners and individual owners don’t take care of things shortly, the district court will have to be involved.
“I think that will be rolling pretty quickly based on what I’m seeing from my staff here at the firm,” O’Connell said.
Mohrfeld said the fact that this was brought to council in open session shows it’s a high priority for city staff.
“There’s so many things. It’s not fair to the neighbors, it’s an embarrassment to the city, and for those of you that went by, all of you said, ‘Are there really people living in there’. It just gives you a sick feeling in your stomach…it’s not fair.”
City Councilman Matt Emmett said there was also evidence of children on the property which he said is somewhat concerning. City Finance Director Peggy Steffensmeier said the Salvation Army has been contacted and the city is trying to get owners the resources they need, but again, they are having trouble connecting with the ownership.
“Be there no doubt, this is going to cost the taxpayers money. When you look at it, it’s just disheartening,” Mohrfeld said. “I’m grandstanding a little, but you know me and these dilapidated properties.”
In an unrelated issue, the city council honored police officer Nathan Parker for Outstanding Service regarding efforts in handling a suicidal individual. Parker received a plaque from the Fort Madison Police Chief who commended Parker for his effort.
“After hearing the details of his actions, it was clear that this is well-deserved,” Potthast said.
Abby Womack, a mental health counselor in Fort Madison, spoke on Parker behalf saying his demeanor and connection with the individual was above and beyond and helped neutralize a situation that she said was “full of fear”.
“He offered help in the future and told the person if they ever needed transport or someone to just talk to that he was always there,” she said.