Minutes - Legislative Hearings

15 West Kellogg Blvd.

Saint Paul, MN 55102

City of Saint Paul

Minutes - Final

Legislative Hearings

Marcia Moermond, Chief Legislative Hearing Officer

Joanna Zimny, Deputy Legislative Hearing Officer

Mai Vang, Legislative Hearing Coordinator

legislativehearings@ci.stpaul.mn.us

651-266-8585

Tuesday, August 4, 2026

10:00 AM

Room 330 City Hall & Court House/Remote

Legislative Hearings to be held in Basement, Room 42

10:00 a.m. Hearings

Special Tax Assessments

RLH TA 26-153

Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 1654

BUSH AVENUE. (File No. 2605T, Assessment No. 269005)

Johnson

Sponsors:

Approve and make payable over 10 years.

Christy Kirk, owner, appeared via phone

[Moermond gives background of appeals process]

Staff report by Supervisor Adam Strehlow: we put this out for bid January 16, 2026 and

BJ Haines received the contract February 9, 2026 and the work was done March 12,

2026 at which point they invoiced the City.

Kirk: I cannot afford this. I am unable to pay for that. I was wondering if there were

options available for me to help? I looked into grants at the time and nothing was

available to help. I’m wondering if there’s a waiver or something to be able to afford

this.

Moermond: of course. I do have one thing that may suit you. That is that for trees, the

City can make payment for up to 10 years. If you don’t pay the invoice, it will go on

your property taxes each year for the next 10 year. That’s $350 a year extra on your

taxes a year, so $175 each half of the year. It does collect interest, but is below

market rate. I don’t have the ability to do a waiver on this type of assessment. You can

also make payments early if you want to be done with it. You aren’t BOUND to pay

over 10 years, but you can.

Kirk: that sounds fine. That’s more feasible, absolutely.

Moermond: you’ll receive another invoice, and then after that it will show up on property

taxes.

Referred to the City Council due back on 8/19/2026

RLH TA 26-158

Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 777

OHIO STREET. (File No. J2602A, Assessment No. 268503)

Noecker

Sponsors:

Layover to LH August 18, 2026 at 10 am (unable to reach PO).

Voicemail at 10:31 am: this is Marcia Moermond from St. Paul City Council calling

Jessica Klasen about an appeal for 777 Ohio and an emergency sewer repair. We’ll try

you back in a few minutes.

Voicemail left at 10:43 am: this is Marcia Moermond from St. Paul City Council calling

again, trying to reach Ms. Klasen. We just tried before this and had a technical

problem on our end, so we will try one more time and try and connect with you.

Voicemail left at 10: 45 am: this is Marcia Moermond from St. Paul City Council calling

you one more time. Since we’ve been unable to reach you this morning I’m going to

reschedule this to August 18th, Tuesday in the same time period, between 10 and

11:15 am. Any questions please call 651-266-8585.

Laid Over to the Legislative Hearings due back on 8/18/2026

Special Tax Assessments

RLH AR 26-54

Ratifying the assessment for Removal of Diseased and/or Dangerous

Tree(s) on Private Property during the months of May 2026. (File No.

2606T, Assessment No. 269007)

Noecker

Sponsors:

Referred to the City Council due back on 9/16/2026

11:00 a.m. Hearings

Orders To Vacate - Code Enforcement

RLH VO 26-31

Appeal of Brent Rekstad to a Notice of Condemnation as Unfit for

Human Habitation and Order to Vacate at 1083 BRADLEY STREET. (To

refer to August 18, 2026 Legislative Hearing)

Kim

Sponsors:

Refer back to LH August 18, 2026 at 11 am on condition that staff report significant

progress in organization and maintenance of property including all egress paths clear 3'

and all fire hazards removed (extension cords removed, electrical box clear, etc).

Brent Rekstad, owner, appeared in room 42 City Hall

[Moermond gives background of appeals process]

Staff report by Supervisor Lisa Martin: July 22, 2026 we did issue a notice of

condemnation. We had a vacate date of August 5th. Quite a few items listed in the

orders, 16. He also had a tall grass and weeds order that was taken care of and

resolved. He had 10 dogs, 7 are at animal control currently, they were all healthy, fed,

and he had a permit to have that amount of dogs with the understanding he pays a $28

fee. There were some issues with that and we have a hearing tomorrow about the dogs.

I went yesterday with Officer Baldwin, and he’s made great progress. The front is clear,

the living room has a path, furniture is clear. There is still stuff but it isn’t an issue. He

was working on the kitchen yesterday. I gave him resources for getting extra recycling

and garbage cans, there was a delay in getting those, but they should be out late this

week or early next week. The big thing now is the kitchen. There’s a lot of storage, a

lot of food, likely much expired, but he needs cans to get that stuff out. Possibly

looking at relocating dogs into living room. Huge area cleared in back yard for the

dogs. Photos are attached. The next check is tomorrow morning at 9 and he will have

significant change in kitchen and floor cleaned. August 10 at 10 am, and August 17 at

10 am, 24th at 10. We’ll continue checking on Mondays. The upstairs we just need

some things off the stairs. Right now he’s focusing on moving things so the dogs can

come back. We do need to clear access to a window in a bedroom for egress. We’re

hoping by Christmas this will be resolved.

Moermond: is there clearance around furnace and electrical panels.

Martin: he’s aware and is working on it. Need more garbage cans for that.

Rekstad: there is a path, but right now there’s clothes hung there temporarily.

Moermond: why are you appealing today?

Rekstad: life just kind of hit me hard. Lost my job, depression, found it difficult to

focus on anything else as far as home maintenance. One thing led to another, kept

putting it off, later didn’t come until 2 weeks ago.

Moermond: sounds like you had quite the wakeup call then?

Rekstad: it was less of a wake up call than one would think. I knew I had to do it and

had to be done. I’m sure Lisa will admit I was resistant at first. I just started a new job,

mental health has improved significantly. This morning I walked down to my living room

and was just thrilled to look at the area and not be depressed. See the significant work

I’ve done to get it cleaned up. I fully own and admit everything. I made a mistake, I own

it. I wasn’t keeping up with the interior. My dogs are healthy, they have been fed, I

groom them myself, the self care I should have included for myself and my house was

directed at the dogs. There are things on the order that have been taken care of. CO

detectors installed, new smoke alarms installed. A few other things done too. The

portion of the backyard devoted to the dogs is done for the most part.

Moermond: have you been a hoarder all along and this is getting worse? Or is it

symptomatic of your current mental health since losing your job?

Rekstad: I do collect Grinch things, Incredibles things, I’m an avid reader so I have

lots of books. The food was just me eating my emotions. As I told Officer Baldwin and

Lisa the other day after they asked where the buying in bulk come from? I came from

a family of 8 kids and my mom did. I live alone now. Prior to this I had people over, I

fed them, we did game nights. It was a life I want to get back to. As I lost my job and

mental health deteriorated it was hard for me to get rid of food and whatnot.

Moermond: I hear you had collections of hobbies, but it kind of led to the collection of

other things and maybe a higher tolerance of it.

Rekstad: I would say that fair.

Moermond: have you got help for your mental health?

Rekstad: yes, I recognized it right away. I got a therapist and met weekly to deal with

was going on. When depression gets a grip on you it is hard to get free.

Moermond: how are you doing now? It is lifting?

Rekstad: yes.

Moermond: what’s the situation with the dogs? You have a meeting with AC tomorrow?

Rekstad: I moved up from Rochester and wanted to foster dogs so I got a boarding

permit to kennel. I have since stopped fostering dogs. I was traveling and the rescue

didn’t want me to be gone for so long for my job. It was an hour and a half each way to

my job. They felt that was too long. I did have neighbors come and let them out in the

mornings and afternoons. They weren’t kenneled for 12 hours.

Moermond: I’m curious, you had the permit for up to 10 dogs, working with a rescue at

the time, but you don’t have that relationship with the recue anymore?

Rekstad: correct.

Moermond: so you just own 10 dogs.

Rekstad: yes, I had 2, 3 foster fails, the additional 5 were friends and family who

asked me to take them. I am proud of that, they are vetted and I groom them. If I take

a dog I always allow the old owner to see the dog, etc., and typically we have an

agreement that they pay half the vet bills for the rest of the dog’s life. I take care of

food which I prepare along with dry kibble. People give me a hard time on what I do for

my dogs, they get food that is healthy and safe for them and that’s why my vet bills are

minimal other than vaccines.

Moermond: it strikes me that you’re borderline hoarding animals. Usually I see this

more with cats. It is always almost a scenario like yours. You end up with so much

that it is hard to manage, part of that is managing vaccines to keep up with the permit.

I’m putting out there that that population likely needs to come down. That’s the hardest

thing we need to talk about. I’m thrilled Ms. Martin is working with you. I’m focused on

fire hazards at this moment. What will kill you or hurt someone else. It has to do with

getting in and out safely and having extra things that would cause a fire. Absolutely NO

extension cords. We need access of at least one yard for paths in and out front door

and up stairs to sleeping room. Stairs need to be clear to bedroom and bathroom and

window egress in bedroom.

Rekstad: the only thing I have left to do of that list is the window in the bedroom.

Otherwise, I feel like everything else is taken care of.

Moermond: If we call 911 and an ambulance shows up with a gurney they need to be

able to navigate to get to where you are. If you fell down they need to get to you to

help. Getting out the window—you need two escapes from a sleeping room. One can

be inside. That has to be taken care of or you need to sleep elsewhere in your house.

That same pathway needs to exist getting TO your electrical panel and your

furnace/water heater. The firefighters need to be able to get to the panel and gas and

get it off quickly and safely. I’ve been doing this long enough that I’ve seen horror

stories of people who have houses as full as yours. People die. Gross unsanitary is no

joke, but safe egress in and out is the primary concern right now.

How many hours at your new job?

Rekstad: 40 hours. 7-3 every day. All the work I’ve been doing have been personal

days off or the evenings. With these events, I’m doing 8 hour evening shifts, so right

now it is when I can fit it in. Then weekends of course.

Moermond: we can do this by phone next week, I’d like a check in report from Ms.

Martin after Monday’s inspection. I’d like to do an in person check in every 2 weeks. I

am not crazy about kicking you out of the house, I’m not.

Martin: he’s making progress and refocusing and checking in every week is good.

Tomorrow’s a big day with the dogs.

Rekstad: I’ll be going on site for work the end of August so I won’t be home, so I’ll

have to coordinate with Lisa.

Moermond: sure. I just need progress reports from Ms. Martin. I’d like to talk with you

periodically and make sure things are moving. Right now I’ll ask the Council to look at

this August 12th. If Ms. Martin’s inspection goes well, I will ask them to send it back

to Legislative Hearing and we’ll track it over the next month. I will make my judgment

based on how things are going with Ms. Martin’s inspections. We’ll have a Monday

report, then if things are going as planned, Wednesday at Council I’ll ask it sent back

to hearing.

This order says reduce volume by 50%. I want this whole thing done in a couple of

months if possible. Start reviewing things. I’d like more specifics. If you want to focus

by week, that would be wonderful for me. Look at ALL your possessions critically, if

I’m not seeing progress it isn’t ok. I’d like this wrapped up in a couple of months if

humanly possible. If you’d like to put together a plan with more specifics. We’ll get a

plan in place.

Rekstad: I have weekly goals and they consist of spaces in the house. Your

expectation is getting rid of the extension cords. I guess I’d like to see where those two

are going to come together.

Moermond: fire risk, and then room by room. Those are my priorities.

Rekstad: yes, understood. You want me to communicate that via email?

Moermond: that works fine, then I can react to something and share my thoughts. That

gives Ms. Martin something to look at during her inspections too.

Referred to the City Council due back on 8/12/2026

RLH VO 26-33

Appeal of Bambi Barclay to a Correction Notice (which includes vacate

order) at 1103 CHATSWORTH STREET NORTH.

Kim

Sponsors:

Recommendation forthcoming.

Bambi Barclay, owner, appeared in room 42 City Hall

[Moermond gives background of appeals process]

Staff report by Supervisor Lisa Martin: July 21, 2026 we did issue a Correction Notice

regarding a notice from Xcel that the power was off. It has been off since June 3 and

is still off as of this morning. We asked it be restored by July 28 to avoid a vacate of

the property.

Moermond: so Xcel notified the City in July?

Martin: yes.

Moermond: historically they give some time before they alert the City.

Martin: yes.

Barclay: I’ve owned and lived in it for over 20 years. I was a cab driver for most of that

period. Uber came in and destroyed that industry, I held on for a while, now I Doordash

full time. I’m also a musician with a band. I also pay my property taxes. I have a

$14,000 energy bill. How? Roughly six years ago, my mortgage doubled payment to

$2,000 a month, and then my furnace went out so I relied on electric heat. I kept up for

awhile. Slowly as my income decreased and my electric bills went up, I was unable to

keep up. My electricity was shut off for the first time last year. The bill isn’t in my

name, it is in the name of an ex partner. The 3 places they told me to contact said

they can’t help. This year, I went to the Salvation Army who said they can’t help

because it isn’t in my name, and the max they give is $1,500 anyway. I had a

roommate last year who wanted to put the bill in his name and pay the bill, but Xcel

refused to let him. I’m on the streets 8 to 12 hours a day every day, I see all these

homeless people that has exploded recently. You wonder where they come from, now

I’ve received a letter saying I have to leave a home I pay the mortgage and taxes on.

That’s what I have to say.

Moermond: how are you doing on your taxes?

Barclay: they’re paid. I filed 2 years worth of taxes, and received one refund.

Moermond: you have a mortgage?

Barclay: yes. My mortgage company collects the taxes and pays them.

Moermond: and your furnace still doesn’t work?

Barclay: correct.

Moermond: Ms. Martin pulled up the property tax statement so we could see what else

was going on, and we can print or email it to you, but it says a decent part of your tax

bill is for unpaid water and garbage bills.

Barclay: I’m current on my water.

Moermond: that’s good, in the past they sent a couple for collection by way of

assessment. That may be part of why the mortgage payment went up. Have you talked

to them about refi?

Barclay; I asked about spreading the amount over a longer period of time. After that

process the mortgage is back down to $1,300, as of April is it back up to $1,500 so it

is creeping up again. It is now 50% more than it was.

Moermond: we’ll get you information on Community Action Partnership who can likely

help with the furnace. Have you talked to Xcel?

Barclay: we have a contentious relationship. They want minimum $1,400 (10%) plus

whatever your monthly usage is.

Moermond: have you spoken with Lauren Lightener at House Calls?

Barclay: I’m not familiar with that.

Moermond: they have resources, you probably talked to a couple them but they may

know of more. Out of the things you can not have that I’m most flexible on, it is

electric. Lack of water, sewer, gas to run a furnace, that would get you out sooner. But,

lack of electric will end up in a situation where you need to leave a place. Looking

forward, this is ward 5, and Councilmember Kim may also have some ideas. That

would be good. You have to get that furnace going again.

I’ll put this on the Council agenda August 19th. Are you using a generator at all?

Barclay: no. I’m not starting fires or using a generator or anything.

Moermond: good, good, I wanted to confirm those things weren’t happening. You call

CAPRW, call SMRLS. Come early on the 19th.

Referred to the City Council due back on 8/19/2026

Summary & Vehicle Abatement Orders

RLH SAO 26-60

Appeal of Erin Metz Verdeja to a Summary Abatement Order at 1518

SELBY AVENUE.

Bowie

Sponsors:

Layover to LH August 11, 2026 at 11 am for further discussion after site visit.

Moermond: I’d like to layover a week, I’ll be going out Friday to do some

measurements.

Laid Over to the Legislative Hearings due back on 8/11/2026

RLH SAO 26-70 Appeal of Delmy L. Muniz to a Summary Abatement Order and Vehicle

Abatement Order at 1689 STILLWATER AVENUE.

Yang

Sponsors:

Grant to September 1, 2026 for compliance with VAO, grant to August 20 for

compliance with SAO.

Delmy Muniz, owner, appeared via phone

[Moermond gives background of appeals process]

Staff report by Supervisor Lisa Martin: July 20, 2026 a Summary Abatement Order was

issued to owner and occupant (renter) to remove and dispose of all tires, scrap metal,

tv’s, buckets, miscellaneous debris from around driveway and entire yard. Also a

Vehicle Abatement Order for a camper and a gray Nissan. Both sent July 20 with July

29th compliance date. This is probably the fourth time we’ve been out. We’ve

discussed with the owner that you cannot work on vehicles like this in the City, and it

needs to remain clean at all times.

Muniz: I already moved the car because he told me I needed to put it in my name and

get insurance, then he said I couldn’t have it here since it doesn’t run yet. That’s the

car. The camper is still here because I don’t know where to move it too. But he’s not

working on cars anymore since that happened. I don’t have a lot of money so I need

more time. I’m cleaning up the rest of the stuff. I moved the car to the front.

Moermond: to the street?

Muniz: it is in front of the house. We can’t use the garage anymore since he doesn’t

believe my husband he won’t work on cars anymore. The car is my daughter’s so I’m

not going to tow it.

Martin: we don’t have an issue with it if its off the property, but the St. Paul Police

Department will monitor it.

Muniz: I’m trying to move the camper. I don’t know where to tow it and I don’t know how

much it will cost. We don’t have the plates yet. We asked when we brought it here he

said it was ok to have there. I’m mad about that because he should have told me at

first to not move it here, because now I have to pay.

Moermond: right now it looks like a scrap camper. It doesn’t look like a camper at all. I

would call a couple of scrap yards and see if they would take it. That’s probably

cheapest. I can give you an extension to deal with it, but you do have to deal with it.

Muniz: I just need time to get money. I don’t know what to do with it.

Moermond: my first call would be a scrap yard. I’ll recommend the Council gives an

extension to September 1.

Muniz: the landlord is coming out today

Moermond: any deadline he is giving you is separate from this and between you two.

Muniz: am I still going to be evicted?

Moermond: I’m not an attorney who can give you advice on those things. That’s really

between you and your landlord.

I’ll recommend you have to August 20th for the yard cleanup. Sept 1 for the camper.

Nissan shouldn’t come back into the yard unless its completely repaired.

Muniz: where am I going to park the car when it snows?

Martin: most people park on the street and move it within the night/day plow guidelines.

Muniz: so I can’t park in the back anymore?

Moermond: I don’t know about any other cars, I only have the gray Nissan on the

orders.

Referred to the City Council due back on 8/19/2026

RLH SAO 26-72

Appeal of Anna Fraser to a Notice to Cut Tall Grass and/or Weeds at

844 STRYKER AVENUE.

Noecker

Sponsors:

Layover to LH Tuesday, August 11, 2026 at 11 am (unable to reach PO).

Voicemail left at 12:19 pm; this is Marcia Moermond from St. Paul City Council calling

Anna Fraser about your appeal for tall grass and weeds at your property. We’ll try you

back in a moment.

Voicemail left at 12:29 pm; this is Marcia Moermond from St. Paul City Council calling

you again about your appeal of tall grass and weeds. I’m going to put this on our

calendar again next Tuesday, August 11, between 11 and 1. Talk to you next week.

Laid Over to the Legislative Hearings due back on 8/11/2026

Making Finding on Nuisance Abatements

RLH SAO 26-65

Making finding on the appealed of Katherine Werner to a nuisance

abatement ordered for 2177 FAIRMOUNT AVENUE in Council File RLH

SAO 26-57.

Coleman

Sponsors:

The nuisance is not abated.

Voicemail left at 12:26 pm: this is Marcia Moermond from St. Paul City Council calling

Katherine Werner about compliance with orders on the property. Looks like we are

almost there, but we have some milkweed and tree shoots coming up. I will have an

inspector double check this next before Council next week and hopefully everything is

done by then. We’ll send a letter confirming this Friday.

Referred to the City Council due back on 8/12/2026

1:30 p.m. Hearings

Orders To Vacate - Fire Certificate of Occupancy

RLH VO 26-34

Appeal of Justin Rasmussen to a Fire Inspection Notice of

Condemnation and Order to Remain Vacant at 1875 NEBRASKA

AVENUE EAST.

Yang

Sponsors:

Grant the appeal.

Voicemail left at 2:13 pm: this is Marcia Moermond from St. Paul City Council calling

Justin Rasmussen about your appeal for the condemnation and order to vacate at

1875 Nebraska.

Voicemail left at 2:19 pm: this is Marcia Moermond from St. Paul City Council calling

Justin Rasmussen again about your appeal of 1875 Nebraska. Your sister Jamie had

an appeal, I think you’re aware of that, so it is scheduled to go to Council Public

Hearing tomorrow, both yours and her case. My recommendation to the Council at 3:30

tomorrow is to grant the appeal. Please call 266-8585 with questions.

Referred to the City Council due back on 8/5/2026

RLH VO 26-36

Appeal of Jade L. Nilo to a Fire Inspection Report at 1400 HEWITT

AVENUE.

Coleman

Sponsors:

Deny the appeal.

Jade Nilo, appellant, appeared in room 42 of City Hall

Isaac Mooney, LLC owner, appeared in room 42 of City Hall

[Moermond gives background of appeals process]

Staff report by Supervisor Keith Demarest: this is a residential property owned by

Wells Property Solutions, LLC. Initial referral received from both Hearing officer and

Code enforcement. Individual came into Legislative Hearing office stating the cat was

impounded. Code found it was no longer owner-occupied and there was no Certificate

of Occupancy on file.

June 18th Inspector Harrington cited code 40.01 sent the initial report requiring the

need for Certificate of Occupancy. July 23 inspector Harrington sent a second notice

with the same citation. July 29th I received a message from St. Paul Police

Department asking for assistance as they responded to this address. They advised

they were responding to the property due to squatter at site. They completed their

contact and I called the property owner, Wells Property LLC out of Wayzata. Spoke

with the property owner and requested permission to enter. They gave permission.

Inspection was done and deemed condemned based on my findings. The property

owner was condemned under 34.23 and Fire Code 111.1 for the following reasons:

previously by other than normal means, the back door was boarded and the side door

(side D) was locked with chain link. No working smoke alarms. No working carbons.

Holes in fire blocking throughout interior. Gross unsanitary conditions throughout due

to trash and broken glass. Dangerous / exposed electrical throughout. Pest

infestations (multiple). Damaged doors and windows throughout. Peeling and chipping

paint. Ceiling in bathroom showed signs of imminent collapse. Weed growth near

foundation. No Certificate of Occupancy. Rest Pro was requested to the property and it

was boarded and turned over to Vacant Buildings.

Moermond: when you called the owner, did they say it was a tenant? Squatter? I’ve

heard both things.

Demarest: I spoke with Aaron who identified the person as a squatter and didn’t know

what to do with the person.

Nilo: I was told when my aunt passed away, my mother and a couple cousins let me

know. We were the only two with relations with Darby. I found myself living near Higher

Ground. Family told me to stay at the house. A couple cousins were staying there. No

one was there when I showed up. My mother came through with a man named Jesse.

He offered me cash for the property. I said it was a family home and was my aunt’s. My

cousin took a brand new property and put the house up to sell once he got the title. He

said I’m selling the house, I said you aren’t doing that. You have to work through the

aunts. Jesse told me to call the cops and say I was allowed to be there. My mother

knows his number. I was in the house maybe a week while I moved my belongings.

Not more than a week later I woke up with the back door blown into the house. I’m

outside looking for my cat. St. Paul Police Department came walking up. They

checked my name. My name was on the mailbox, I got utilities on in my name. Xcel

released my aunt from her bills and put my name on it. I was proud I had some place

to go after 10 years on the street. I came back clear when they ran my name. He told

me to take a hike. I was in my pajamas. He had an attitude like they can do whatever

they want. They told me to take a walk so I went to Speedway. Thought the cops were

going to handle it. I see them leave. Run back. There is a big board on the back door.

Says they took my cat. Impounded my animal. How could you say I was checking

doorknobs? They took the cat since they couldn’t take me. I don’t have any money to

get the cat out. They gave it away. How did the fire inspector get in but I can’t? I went

to the pound and asked for my cat back, they said I needed to pay the impound fee. I

run around everywhere in the world saying they can’t give me a “non condemnation

letter”. Best is she gave me a paper asking how much you want for my cat. Every girl

around me has been taken from my life. I got new locks. I don’t know how to install

them. No one will help me. It is like they’ve been told not to help me. It has been

months, trying to get paperwork together for court. Having the money to do a civil

judgment against the St. Paul Police Department, its like a kick in the face. Dude, you

took my animal from my home. Search an seizure or what? I went to internal affairs. I

ran into the officers again a couple of weeks ago. I got put into the back seat of squad

car. Hot as hell. Cut my backpack off because they wouldn’t take the cuffs of me.

When I was released with no nothing, no paperwork. It all began when I went to

Regions after I stroked out after being electrocuted. I was on drugs. I couldn’t swallow

my spit.

Moermond: checking Ramsey County records, Darlene owns it and March 6 it went to

Wells Property Solutions LLC. So she or her estate no longer owns it. I don’t know who

was acting on behalf of her estate. If it went through probate. Someone was acting on

behalf of the estate and it was sold. The new owner you don’t have a relationship with it

sounds like?

Nilo: who sold the house?

Moermond: I don’t have a sales record.

[Nilo leaves room]

Mooney: I’m here on behalf of to get it extended for a 90 day window as far as the

condemnation so we can secure and fix everything we need to. Especially what was on

the fire inspection report. We just couldn’t gain access. In St. Paul when there is

someone there who isn’t supposed to be there we just shut everything off. We deal with

this a lot. Now we can actually access the property and secure the building.

Moermond: do you have a copy of the inspection report?

Mooney: it would have went to the office, so yes, someone has it.

Moermond: orders went out July 29th—we discussed this before you got here,

sorry—Keith Demarest has a letter with the issues leading to the condemnation in

general terms.

Mooney: sure, we do this often enough.

Moermond: I gather Jade Nilo was there without permission?

Mooney: yeah, no one had permission.

Moermond: you bought it from who?

Mooney: I didn’t participate in that. The owner passed away and one of the sales staff

would have worked to acquire the property. This was in foreclosure and sold at a

sheriff’s sale. We picked up the certificate.

Zimny: it is dated 7/30/26 with Ramsey County.

Mooney: I believe the issue is it is a 12 month redemption. I’m pretty sure on that. It

doesn’t come back until March whatever. Secure, rehab, do everything and then sell to

someone.

Demarest: my partner Der Vue was told by St. Paul Police Department that it appeared

someone broke a window and then shut the window from the inside.

Mooney: that’s what we understand and saw too. Broken into and then shut from

inside. We shut everything down and leave when that happens for safety of staff. I

don’t remember when that was. There was still snow on the ground.

Moermond: the question in front of me today is: should this be condemned. The

repairs had a tight timeline to be done, or vacated. That is all that is under appeal.

Mooney: there is no one in there so our workers are safe, we will fix immediately. I

guess I was asking for a 90 day extension from when the property was safe for us.

Moermond: no. I just have the condemnation and order to vacate in front of me. It will

be referred to the Vacant Building program, which is probably your bigger concern.

That and the associated fee. By definition it is Category 2 because it has condemned

and has major code violations, and secured by other than normal means. The

difference for the owner is whether this letter is your to do list, or is it a Code

Compliance Inspection Report. I think it should be that and not a fire over. This

wouldn’t be referred to Vacant Building until its voted by Council.

Mooney: it will be dealt with immediately.

Moermond: you’re going to have to pull at least a building permit. I don’t know about

other permits especially with water damage. Its state of being is unfit for human

habitation. If it is, should it be vacated? Again I say yes. Your question about being

safe for workers has to do with Mr. Nilo breaking in or coming in as he sees his right.

That’s going to be a problem for you. If the boards get pulled down the City will board it

again, but giving you an extension won’t make it safe.

Mooney: we just don’t send in anyone when people are there. Once they’re removed,

then we can prevent people from coming in as far as securing a property. We have

never had issues after securing a property.

Demarest: this WAS already sent to Vacant Buildings, the same day.

Moermond: ok, that has happened. Presumably a letter has gone out and that is

appealable. In the meantime I’m going to say it is property condemned based on

conditions. I can see photos. I can see imminent collapse of the bathroom ceiling

which is enough in itself. Electrical exposed. All of these things also tell me you need

a Code Compliance Inspection, but that is a separate question. Don’t do things in the

meantime that would require a permit.

[Nilo returns to room]

Nilo: I needed a break to go cry and smoke a cigarette. I just think crazy things. I just

needed a break to walk off. That’s what the cops tell me. Take a walk and cool off.

Moermond: you want to be able to be in to get your things out.

Nilo: both parts. Somewhere to live. Things removed put back in. Mr. Isaac, talk to

me.

Mooniey: if you need to get things out we’re not going to keep your things. We can

discuss that.

Nilo: how did it get sold?

Moermond: Ms. Zimny looked this up in the Ramsey County Recorder’s office

information. When your aunt died she stopped paying the mortgage. The bank

foreclosed on the mortgage, and tried to take the house back as collateral on the loan,

that didn’t happen. The sheriff’s office has an auction of the house on behalf of the

bank. They can bid like anyone else for the note. If your aunt owed the bank $50,000,

for example, someone could go in and buy the amount she owed, or even more. The

bank would bid $50,000. These guys bought the house at auction with the foreclosure.

It is theirs now because they own the debt on the house. They get to say who can live

there. What they can also do is meet you there, open the house up so you can get

your things out. Sounds like he’s open to having someone meet you there.

Mooney: certainly, we can have a contractor meet you there.

Nilo: I think I’ll just walk off. Keep everything. I’ll talk to the City about getting a

lawsuit; see if there’s even a reason for me to stay around this City. This is a cycle. I

can’t believe the cops can take my f*cking cat. I’m going to have trouble doing a

lawsuit on the cops.

Zimny: I did highlight the legal information help in the House Calls brochure, that may

help.

Moermond: I’m sorry I don’t have more for you.

Nilo: I thought it would be more a legal matter. I didn’t know it was this easy to take

someone’s house. Their cat. Their kids. I’ve been on the streets a long time trying to

be like Jesus of the streets. I just got a damn reaper in my head who tells me bad

things in my head now. I can’t find with the senate. I can’t fight with Trump. I will never

see my daughter again. Try to fight for my cat and didn’t have a say. What can you do?

Just hear my cat’s voice. Saying I’m sorry.

Moermond: Mr. Nilo, take care of yourself. I am sorry this has been a hard journey.

Nilo: I just go die now? Sounds like it.

Referred to the City Council due back on 8/12/2026