Bagwell wants city to ease approach toward property owners

Incoming Hutchinson City Councilmember Sara Bagwell will take office next week, and her message to the Hutchinson Housing Commission resonated with some members.

On Wednesday afternoon, Bagwell urged a change in the city’s approach toward owners of properties not compliant with city code. After she and incoming City Councilmember Steve Garza left the commission session and after the commission dealt with its regular meeting agenda, commissioners returned to the earlier discussion.

Housing Commissioner Aubrey Patterson agreed with changing the tone and look of the official letter to property owners to make it friendlier and less threatening, but doesn’t want to change the city’s standards. Others concurred with Patterson. Fellow Commissioner Roy Little said he was shocked when he first saw the letter, saying it “was written by lawyers.”