GROVES — A man who requested a public hearing regarding a junked travel bus did not appear at the meeting Monday.

Groves City Council members scheduled the hearing after Monday’s council meeting. Robert Stephens did not appear. Council approved a resolution to take possession of the 1986 Allegro travel vehicle. The item is set to appear on the agenda of the next council meeting on Monday, Jan. 5.

City officials hope to convince a wrecker to haul the vehicle and be paid in the scrap metal the bus would generate.

Stephens lives on Whitaker Street in Groves and the vehicle is at 6130 Hansen Street.

Groves City Manager D.E. Sosa said Stephens had requested the hearing for a chance to argue that the vehicle is not to be considered junk. Sosa said the city has paid to have other vehicles removed from his property before. In the past, actions have been taken, but offending vehicles did not leave the property until they were removed with city funding.

“No more Mr. Nice Guy. We’ve already been nice,” Sosa said.

A woman answering Stephen’s home phone Monday evening said he had to work at the time of the hearing.

During the council meeting, members approved a resolution to submit a Community Development Block Grant proposal to the Office of Rural and Community Affairs. If the $300,000 grant is approved, the city would receive funds in the spring that would be used for sewer line improvements, Sosa said.

ddoiron@panews.com