Brief chronology – 617 W 4^th, Denton property:

10/30/02          Inspected, structure is blighted. Mailed courtesy letter.

3/14/03            Contacted Mrs. Denton and Norma Jantz (daughter). Mr. Denton is deceased and no steps have been taken with regard to the estate.

7/01/03            Inspected, no change. Issued Notice of Violation.

12/01/04          Issued Notice of Violation for blighted structure. The owner, Mr. Denton, is deceased. His wife survives.

3/07/05            Staff met with Jeanette Denton in our office and expressed concerns for the ongoing deterioration of all of their family’s properties. The family has not taken any steps with regard to the estate.

4/01/05            Some minor repairs visible, hole in roof patched.

5/15/05            Jeanette Denton submitted a timeline for repairs.

8/05/05            Inspected, no change.

5/01/06            Mrs. Denton recently died.

8/29/07            Called Norma Jantz, daughter of property owner, and expressed the continued concerns for the condition of this property as well as the numerous other properties in her parent’s names.

9/17/07            Meeting at property with both daughters (Norma and Jeanette) and city staff to discuss condition of property. Requested entry for a more thorough inspection, access was denied. Jeanette also refused to allow us on the property to conduct the exterior inspection, so the inspection was conducted from the city right-of-way and adjacent private properties.

4/01/08            Inspected, no change. The holes in the roof are getting larger, the rot and decay continues. The front porch roof is rotted through.

6/06/08            Norma Jantz (daughter) came to our office requesting additional time to figure out what they are going to do. Staff advised her that we are proceeding, but suggested in the meantime that they pursue avenues to resolve the estate issues and to develop a schedule to address the concerns.

5/02/08            Mailed a Notice and Order, ordering the structure be repaired. Also advising that if repairs are not made prior to June 9, 2008, the city would take additional steps to resolve the blighted condition.

9/03/08            Secured search warrant from Douglas County District Court.

9/03/08            Brian Jimenez contacted Norma Jantz and advised her we had secured the search warrant. She said to contact Jeanette as she is in Topeka and cannot do anything to help.

9/04/08            Brian Jimenez attempted to contact Jeanette Denton via phone and got no answer.

9/05/08            Executed search warrant, contracted a locksmith to gain entry to front and side (east) doors. Conducted inspection (interior and exterior). 

To summarize, the structure at 617 W 4^th Street is in a severe state of disrepair. With the current conditions of the structure, the decay will continue to progress at a rapid rate. The property owner is deceased and his wife is deceased.  The only living children are the 2 daughters, Norma Jantz and Jeanette Denton. For the past 6 years, staff has urged them to do something with the estate and still to this date there is no evidence that any steps toward resolution have been taken.