The city of Yelm is ramping up code enforcement to improve public health and safety after multiple reports of two drug houses within city limits and “excessive garbage” along the Nisqually River.

Two houses in Yelm accounted for more than 100 police responses, mostly drug-related, in 2017, according to a statement by Yelm City Administrator Michael Grayum. The two houses are well-known in the Yelm area for being “trap houses,” where squatters take shelter and illicit drugs. Neither of the two homes have running water or an active sewer system.

City staff took heavy fire from the public, scrutinizing their decision to remove a homeless encampment on the banks of the Nisqually River last Thursday but were praised for shutting down a trap house thought to be used by homeless and “squatters.” 

Kayla Scott of Yelm wrote a letter to the editor of the Nisqually Valley News last week before the city’s actions were noticed. The letter was titled “Yelm Police Not Attentive to Drug Flop House” and it asked Police Chief Todd Stancil to look into the house on Middle Road. The letter claimed the city had yet to address the “glaring issue” and even caused her neighbor to move in fear of her children’s safety.

“This was an issue when I moved in but it’s growing exponentially. It’s getting so much worse every week,” Scott said in her letter. “Or they avoid it as they don’t want to hassle with that mess. It’s an embarrassment to an otherwise fantastic town. If we want to turn a blind eye to drug use and sales then I guess I want to hear that honest truth so I know where we stand.”

Scott called the property a health issue and said it looks like a “poorly maintained refuse” with “literal piles of garbage” including used needles and mattresses throughout the property.

Grayum said the house has been on the city’s priority list since he was hired just over a year ago. He recalled Yelm police officers deemed the houses as problematic when he did a ride-along last year but decided to formulate a plan and create a priority list of problematic areas before action was taken.

“This is something we wanted to do for awhile now,” Grayum said.

The property owner of the house on Middle Road joined the police at the scene with a crew of assistants on Monday, Jan. 22, to board up windows and doors according to Grayum. He said the house was completely boarded up and several occupants and animals from the home were removed after an hour of work.

“We have been in constant communication with the property owner who provides assurances that he will continue to clean up the property on a daily basis until all the nuisance related material is removed,” Grayum said in a statement.

The second problematic house, located on Quail Meadows, was issued a “do not occupy” notice on their door last Thursday. Occupants refused to answer the door when Yelm police officers and building department personnel posted the notice. 

The property owner met with the building department at City Hall later the same day and was given 30 days to re-establish running water and clean the property before abatement would begin.

“We didn’t want to come into this heavy handed,” Grayum said. “Being heavy handed isn’t the way we operate, even when I was new here, I knew that wasn’t us.”

The city is “dusting off” their plans to enforce regulations within city limits after a budget overhaul which allows the city to hire additional personnel including a code enforcement officer and additional police officers.

The city had open discussions with the public including an economic summit, hosted by Yelm Mayor JW Foster last June. At the summit, Yelm residents and business owners voiced their concern about the two houses and the homeless encampments posing a threat to public health and safety. All of those who voiced their concerns are in line with Scott’s letter to the editor last week.

”My entire neighborhood is in agreement on this issue,” said Scott. “I encourage you to speak with the members of the immediate local communities and listen to their thoughts on this location — everyone feels the same. My old neighbor moved away months ago because she said ‘it’s not safe for my kids anymore here.”’

Yelm code enforcement officials mailed 26 first-round letters as of presstime to address violations ranging from abandoned vehicles, boat and RV storage, and dilapidated buildings according to the city. They will make second contacts with property owners who do not respond at the beginning of next week.

“It is the responsibility of the city to the best we can for the most people,” Grayum said in a statement. “By treating all persons with respect, providing advanced notification, and enforcing codes consistently, we will continue to provide compassion and action.”