Homeowners whose grass is getting longer and longer may soon be receiving something in their mailbox from the city of Clinton — a parcel that could prove costly if the grass is not cut in a timely manner.

Following concerns raised by Councilwoman Maxine Harris last month, city manager John Connet updated the Council on a new course of action that can be utilized in shortening the grass, one he alluded to last month. At Tuesday night’s Council meeting, he explained new legislation targeting such nuisance properties in detail.

“We wanted to let you know about legislation that allows for only annual notices for chronic violators,” said Connet. “After that, we can just mow it. That should help keep the process going and take the burden off code enforcement.”

Planning officials utilize a code enforcement officer to gauge city properties and assess those that might present unsafe or eye-ailing situations. Among investigated violations are those concerning unsafe buildings, minimum housing code requirements, nuisance vehicles, open space violations and “excessive vegetation/overgrowth.”

Last month, Harris noted the large number of properties with reported overgrowth inside her district. Reports showed that, of the 115 “excessive vegetation/overgrowth” violations submitted by planning officials, nearly half concerned District 5 properties.

City officials, including mayor Lew Starling, expressed interest in seeing the properties prior to Tuesday’s meeting, and they did.

“Ms. Harris brought that to our attention and we need to monitor that,” said Starling. “We’re glad there’s legislation to deal with this now. There will be no other warnings — just that one.”

Violations of the city’s overgrowth ordinance occur when grass exceeds 10 inches. Previously, those in violation have been notified and given 10 days to rectify the problem. If they do not, they will be subject to a fine. According to the city of Clinton’s current fee schedule, lot mowing is done at a $150 minimum cost to the property owner, with $50 charged for each additional hour.

The legislation will allow for less heartache all around, Connet said.

Earlier this year, the N.C. General Assembly passed legislation that authorizes the city of Clinton to give an annual notice to chronic violators of the city’s overgrown vegetation ordinance. Clinton is one of 27 municipalities encompassed in the legislation, passed in March.

The legislation puts it simply. The city must only notify a chronic violator once before taking matters into its own hands and billing the property owners.

“A municipality may notify a chronic violator of the municipality’s overgrown vegetation ordinance that, if the violator’s property is found to be in violation of the ordinance,” the law states, “the municipality shall, without further notice in the calendar year in which the notice is given, take action to remedy the violation and the expense of the action shall become a lien upon the property and shall be collected as unpaid taxes.”

A chronic violator is defined as a person who owns property where, in the previous calendar year, the municipality took remedial action at least three times under the overgrown vegetation ordinance. Locally, there are numerous properties that fall into that category.

Many of the “excessive vegetation/overgrowth” violations recently submitted by city staff date back to April. However, there are also several properties that are repeat offenders and many others throughout the city that remain in violation.

Councilman Neal Strickland recommended a letter be drafted and sent to all property owners who have violations against them.

Harris thanked Council for taking the time to investigate the matter.

“I appreciate you all looking into it,” said Harris, who noted such overgrowth is not a welcoming sight for those coming into the city. “It sends a message and I don’t think we like that. People tend to take on the likes of what they see. I don’t think we want that with all the hard work we’ve done.”

Starling noted another section near the outskirts of the city, under the U.S. 421 bridge.

“Clearly under that bridge on McKoy Street, it is not good,” the mayor remarked. “If the state does not move on that, we may, for the sake of the city, have to move on that. That’s particularly a problem.”

Harris agreed, saying that nothing has been done “in three years.” Starling attested to the lack of work done in the area in recent years.

“I think the last time there was something done, it was the city that did it,” he said.

With Little Dolphins daycare and several churches, including Full Gospel, Iglesia Bautista Maranatha and Morning Star Holy Church, sitting nearby on McKoy Street, Harris pointed out, there were many health and safety hazards present, among them snakes.

“It’s just not safe,” she said.

Condemnations

Also at the meeting, a home at 624 Lisbon St. was condemned and another scheduled to receive the same fate was said to have been demolished by the owners.

Council approved an ordinance of condemnation at the Lisbon Street home, owned by Walter and Malkia Rayner. City staff has received a low bid of $3,950 to remove the structure, which officials have deemed unsafe.

Although a similar bid was received to raze a structure at 85 Faison Highway, planning director Jeff Vreugdenhil told Council that the owners, Andra Newkirk and Clarence Monroe Jr., contracted with Earl Bullock Bulldozer Service to remove the structure and it has been destroyed.

“They have voluntarily removed that structure, which has been a problem for a good while,” Vreugdenhil told Council Tuesday. “If it had been there this evening, I would have asked you to condemn it.”

Starling lauded the homeowners with taking action during an unfortunate situation, one city officials see all too often.

“We don’t like condemning houses,” said Starling. “It’s nice to have the residents’ help.”

Chris Berendt can be reached at 910-592-8137, ext. 121, or by email at sicrime@myclintonnc.com.