Hoisington is taking on blight with an aggressive effort to tear down dilapidated homes and remove junked vehicles.

City Manager Jonathan Mitchell says residents felt their community was more prosperous than it appeared.

The Great Bend Tribune reported that two homes have been torn down since April and the city is accepting bids to tear down three more. Meanwhile, police have issued 70 property improvement requests for junked vehicles.

The city also is working with eight or nine homeowners and one garage owner to determine if situations can be resolved without e city tearing down the structures.

City code enforcement officer Don Doerschlag says the response has been positive. His hours will be doubled to 20 hours per week in January.