Local News

North Spring Street house deemed hazardous

Free-roam cats, odor and blight cited as issues

NEW ULM - Neighbors of the 1100 Block of North Spring Street received long-awaited relief after New Ulm's City Council passed a resolution revoking the rental registration, ordering of abatement of public nuisance conditions and declaring a hazardous building located at 1108 North Spring Street.

Prior to the resolution, a public hearing was held for both parties to speak.

City Attorney Robert Scott opened the hearing by explaining the process.

"The council will be asked to act in a quasi-judicial capacity," Scott said. "You're being asked to apply the ordinances and laws that exist to facts."

The three laws and ordinances in question were the housing registration ordinance, the city's public nuisance ordinance, and a state statute that regulates hazardous property.

The housing ordinance calls for vacation and condemnation of a house if the property is determined to be detrimental to public health, safety, sanitation, and general welfare of a community.

The city's nuisance ordinance refers to property that unreasonably annoys or endangers morals, comfort or health to members of the public. Scott clarified that there are specific ordinances pertaining to odor from cats that can be detected off the property, as well as ordinances regarding debris around the exterior of a property.

State statute regulating hazardous property considers hazards to be those that are of unsanitary condition, fire hazards or causing physical damage.

City Planner John Knisley gave a summary of the events leading up to Tuesday's public hearing and resolution.

He said that the city has been dealing with issues at 1108 North Spring Street for four years, and in 2024 city code was adopted which granted a penalty process set to accelerate and maintain compliance.

Two years later, in January of 2026, a meeting was held between Ward 2 Councilor Eric Warmka (1108 North Spring Street is located in Ward 2), city staff, and residents in proximity to 1108 North Spring Street. Residents shared concerns about odor from cat urine and feces, free roaming cats around the neighborhood, along with numerous other complaints.

On Aug. 13, New Ulm Fire Chief Paul Macho, along with Knisley, conducted a rental inspection. During the inspection they found floors covered in cat urine and fecal matter, along with 20 to 30 cats living in the home. A notice to address the nuisance odor was given to the resident, who believed he could take care of the issue.

Upon re-inspection on Oct. 6, roughly 20 cats were maintained in one room, with a few others roaming the house freely. Carpets were torn up and much of the trash was removed, yet the odor remained emanating from the home. Staff informed the resident that the cats had to be relocated, providing information about an organization willing to help relocate the cats. The resident declined the offer.

On Oct. 23, staff delivered the notice of city hearing and declaration of the three laws and ordinances relevant to the situation. On Nov. 2, staff met with the property owner, who provided landfill receipts and assured staff that action was being taken.

Following Knisley's summary of events, the public was given the opportunity to speak.

David Johnson, who is the owner of the house but does not live there, spoke on behalf of his brother Richard Johnson, who is the resident of 1108 North Spring Street.

"I have a brother that I wanted to take care of, and I bought a house," Johnson said. "I told him you're welcome to live there and I told him at the beginning a couple cats was fine, but no more than that."

Johnson said he did research and found an enzymatic chemical cleaner that would break down the odor-causing proteins.

"I've been working with my brother, and he does clean the house and is taking the junk that has been affected by cat urine to the dump," Johnson said. "I'm asking for mercy. If you could give me time, I got roped into this."

Once Johnson concluded neighbors of the 1100 Block of North Spring Street spoke.

Emily Johnson and her husband Brady said that they have been dealing with issues since they moved into their home in 2023. They focused on concerns about raising their children in proximity to 1108 North Spring Street.

Emily Johnson said once when leaving home with her daughters one of the cats attacked their dog. The dog fought off the cat but the situation was concerning.

"As a parent, I immediately thought what if one of my children had been hurt," Emily Johnson said.

They also brought up the dangerous conditions of the tenant's vehicles and driving habits.

"We've seen several different vehicles associated with this residence. They consistently have significant issues, including smashed windows, missing bumpers and fenders, inoperable lights, extensive body damage and flat tires," Emily Johnson said.

Brady Johnson rebutted David Johnson's claim that he found a cleaner that would rid the urine odor.

"Before I was with DNR, I was with construction. I did a lot of mold remediation. My mother's a state mold inspector," Brady Johnson said. "I know firsthand as far as mold and cat urine, it's about the same. The only way you get rid of mold is you're ripping it out. Same thing with cat urine."

Next up was Chuck Grossmann, the next-door neighbor of 1108 North Spring Street, who said he has to run into his house and hasn't opened his window in years due to the odor.

"We've called cops, we call people. It's always a loophole, never results," Grossmann said.

Stephanie Grossmann has lived next door until 2021 and raised her family next door. She said that the house caused harm to her daughter's social life and wellbeing.

"She will not bring her friends over. She has been spending less and less time with her dad because the smell is so bad," Stephanie Grossmann said. "And when she's there she doesn't want to be there alone because she fears [the tenant.]

Stephanie Grossmann said she received a call from her daughter because a dead deer carcass was under the motor home parked at 1108 North Spring Street to feed the cats. When Stephanie Grossmann called the police, the tenant moved the caress to the front seat of his car.

After a few other residents spoke, each Councilor took the time to speak.

They all agreed that the conditions were unacceptable.

"I take fault in this going way too far. Second chances are one thing, but this individual has single-handedly ruined an entire neighborhood," Warmka said. "It'd be different if there was any action he was doing up to this point to show any form of remorse for what he's done to that neighborhood, to these people, these children."

The resolution passed with a motion from Councilor Tom Schmit and a second from Warmka.