New Hope Approves Revoking Rental Permit of Group Home, After Numerous Police Calls to Property
The New Hope City Council approved revoking a rental registration permit for a group home on Boone Avenue North after police reported more than 60 calls to the property in the past year and three citations for disorderly conduct.
Police records show on one of the calls a resident threatened a police officer with a fire poker. On another call, records show a resident threatened to stab a staff member with a screwdriver when asked to turn down his music.
In a “Tough Spot”
A property manager for the home told the council that many of the calls pertain to one resident. He also said that the managers cannot evict a problem resident because of a state mandate.
“I cannot kick a vulnerable adult out of a facility because of disorderly conduct,” said Sheikh Dukuly, who identified himself as a property manager. “Now I feel like this is putting me in a tough spot because I can no longer call the police. I lost one property last month and I am on the verge of losing another one.”
The council did vote to revoke the permit, with council members voicing concerns about how the property is managed.
“I really hope that what has occurred here today is studied by the state of Minnesota. I know they are struggling and I know you are struggling,” said council member Jonathan London. “The state is failing these people and there needs to be a better job done. With that, I’m in favor of shutting the residence down and revoking the license because we have to look at the interest of the entire city.”
Council member John Elder pointed out that New Hope has 65 group homes in the city and most operate without “this type of chaos.”
“I cannot as an elected official allow any neighbor to have a lower quality of life because of one particular resident. I don’t care if it’s a group home or an owner-occupied or a rental,” said Elder. “It takes time away from our officers. It takes resources. I have no course of action ethically other than to revoke the license.”
Staff also recommended that a new rental registration permit should not be issued to the same property owner, or any entity of the property owner, for a period of three years. A resolution will be considered with these elements at the Nov. 14 council meeting.
You can listen to the full discussion in Monday night’s meeting here.
