HERMANN – Citizen complaints about public nuisances such s tall grass and derelict vehicles are prompting the Hermann Board of Aldermen to take a closer look at the city’s code for handling such issues.

Alderman Jim Schirmer proposed the formation of an ad hoc committee to review that portion of the city’s laws and make recommended changes if necessary. At Monday night’s first regular session of the month, Schirmer said he had been contacted by residents expressing concern about what they see as public nuisances such as tall grass and vehicles that appear to be abandoned in yards.

“I would recommend an update” regarding tall grass, weeds and derelict vehicles, he said. “I’d like to address this so maybe we can clean up Hermann a little more,” he added.

The process of dealing with public nuisances involves several layers of local government. The city’s code enforcement officer is often the first city official to investigate a complaint. If that official is unable to convince the property owner to make changes, the matter can be referred to the police department for further investigation and possibly the issuance of a citation for the offense. That can result in the property owner being summoned to Municipal Court to talk to a judge about the situation.

City Attorney David Politte told the board that he thinks a review of this portion of the city’s code might be in order. “I think a review of the city’s code is a fine idea,” he said. “It’s worth looking at,” he added.

Alderman President Dolores Grannemann, presiding over the session in the absence of Mayor Bruce Cox, appointed Schirmer and Alderman Ash Geers to the ad hoc panel to be joined by other city personnel in reviewing the nuisance code.

In other action during Monday night’s relatively brief session, the board gave first-round approval to legislation setting this year’s property tax rates for city government at a total amount of $0.3835 per $100 assessed value.

There are three components to the city’s property tax – the General Fund, the Park Fund and the Municipal Band Fund. The General Fund levy is $0.3637; the Park Fund levy is $0.0005; and the Municipal Band Fund levy is $0.0103. Those rates are estimated to produce $178,310 for the General Fund; $4,657 for the Park Fund; and $5,049 for the Municipal Band Fund.

According to figures contained in City Hall’s report to the board, the total value of property in the city is slipping. City Administrator Patricia Heaney noted to the board that total assessed valuation of all property dropped in 2026 by $64,287. Because of that decrease in value, the total revenue increase this year from the property is expected to be only $1,128, as determined by the Missouri State Auditor’s Office. That state agency reviews local governments’ property values and tax rates and determines an entity’s tax ceiling.

According to the assessment figures, the value of real estate in the city has increased by about $104,000 (from $36,604,440 last year to $36,708,650 this year) but the total assessed value of personal property has dropped from $11,062,932 last year to this year’s level of $11,025,055. But a major drop was seen in the assessment of Local Railroads and Utilities, which went from $227,328 last year to $71,173 this year.

The total assessed value of all property in Hermann has slipped a bit farther from the $50-million mark from $49,091,063 in 2025 to $49,026,776 this year.