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City council conducts 1st reading of ordinance

HARRISVILLE — Although grass cutting season is months away, the Harrisville City Council took steps Monday to assure that all Harrisville property owners will keep their lawns at a reasonable length this coming year.

The council voted to conduct the first reading of a noxious vegetation ordinance that would impose fees against homeowners who do not maintain the length of their grass. Under the ordinance the city would either mow violators’ lawns, or pay to have lawns mowed.

Under the ordinance’s first reading, homeowners could be charged around $125 for the first violation of grass that is allowed to grow 12 inches or more.

Mayor John Dobis said the ordinance was developed by the city planning commission.

“This has been a bone of contention for a long period of time,” he said.

According to Dobis if the council passes the ordinance, which can be viewed at the Harrisville City Hall, notices will be broadcast and published in newspapers this spring warning the public about the new ordinance.

“A residential (grass cutting fee) would start around $125 for the first time, but we will get their attention,” Dobis said. “(For industrial areas), if it truly creates a nuisance, it could be much higher for us to go and clean it up and if they don’t pay it, it could revert to their taxes.”

Dobis recommended a motion be cast to conduct the first reading of the ordinance.

“Our plan for next year is to make sure our neighbor’s cut their grass just like we cut our grass,” he said.

Dobis added there are adverse effects of having tall grass, including attracting unwanted animals such as rodents or skunks to the city limits. He said the animals could have harmful effects on the community.

City Attorney David Cook said he read the ordinance before it was issued to the council by the planning commission and recommended the second reading be conducted during the council’s December meeting so the public would have time to potentially weigh in on the document.

Councilman John Kaiser said that he was uncomfortable with the height that was outlined in the ordinance and said it should be reduced to lower than eight inches.

Dobis said the height was introduced in the ordinance to be fair to the public, many of which own homes in the city but do not live in the area and do not visit much.

“(Homeowners) might be out of town. What we have to do is have our zoning enforcement officer be on the ball and go out there,” Dobis said. “We have to be reasonable about this. There would be a letter and if they ignore us (we can go after them). We have had people ignore us on this for two or three years.”

Councilman Michael Baird said the ordinance would give more authority to the city to go after people who did not take care of their lawns. According to officials the city has often mowed neglected lawns and sent bills to homeowners but did not have the legal authority to do so and the bills went unpaid due to a lack of an ordinance.

Baird cast a motion to conduct the first reading and the motion was passed by the council.

Jason Ogden can be reached via email at jogden@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5693. Follow Jason on Twitter @jo_alpenanews.

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