Denison official say mowing liens about recouping costs

Even though January has just started and spring may seem a long way away, the city of Denison is asking residents to take the time to keep their lawns maintained when the inevitable growing season comes.

The Denison City Council authorized the placement of $38,896 of liens on 371 lots throughout the city for mowing services that were rendered on neglected or abandoned lots throughout the city over the past year. City Manager Robert Hanna said the lots were mowed because they were out of compliance with the city code, which limits grass to being less than 12 inches tall.

At some point in time it starts to become a health and safety hazard, said Hanna, adding that the tall grass can attract pests and dangerous snakes and also become a fire hazard. Beyond being a safety concern, Hanna said the tall grass can become a nuisance and an eyesore.

According to a list of frequently asked questions on the citys website, in the event of a violation, code enforcement will notify the property owner to correct the violation. If the violation is not corrected within seven days, a citation will be issued by the city. This citation is separate from the lien placed for mowing services.

These are just properties where the the grass has gotten too tall, said Denison Mayor Jared Johnson. So the city has to get them mowed.

From May of 2014 through November, the city mowed 371 lots, with some lots mowed multiple times. While some of these lots were abandoned, some are occupied.

When the economy goes bad, the weeds go up, said Hanna. Some people cant afford lawn care services anymore.

The liens placed on the property mowed by the city include mowing fees, which range from $17.50 to $75, and a flat administrative fee of $65 for each instance. The average cost of the liens is $104.84.

Hanna said the administrative fee arenot meant to act as a punitive measure and instead allow the city to recover legitimate administrative costs including the use the city attorneys time in filing the liens, the cost of city staff time in researching case history and other in-house costs connected to the service.

It is still a net loss for us, said Hanna. We dont like doing it, but this is a public safety issue.

Read this article:
Denison official say mowing liens about recouping costs