VALDOSTA —
Summer months mean many things for South Georgia residents, including the reality that the grass must be mowed.
Back in November, council members unanimously approved an update to the grass ordinance, but with the warm weather upon us, citizens are now facing tighter regulations for property upkeep.
Prior to the most current amendments, residents were given 10 business days to respond to a request from city marshals to keep their grass cut.
As veteran City Marshal Mike Pieper explained, many citizens would wait until they received notification and then wait until the last minute to mow their lawns.
“We would sometimes do it 20 times a year and there was no stipulation for them to answer to a court summons,” Pieper said. “A lot of folks wouldn’t cut their grass until they received a warning and we ended up managing their property for them.”
Now, the ordinance stipulates that after two notifications, the property owner must go before a court judge.
Pieper said the ordinance is in place primarily to keep property values from dwindling due to negligent neighbors and to eliminate habitats for mice, snakes and other animals seeking refuge amongst the unhindered growth.
Local property owner and businessman Don Brotherton only recently became aware of the new ordinance when he began receiving notifications on his properties.
Some of these properties were acquired through tax deeds, where he purchases foreclosed lots for future use. Although he is listed by the tax assessor as the owner, there is a 12-month right of redemption barring Brotherton from taking physical possession of the property.
During this year-long period, he also has no legal right to provide any maintenance to the property.
Because the city goes by the Tax Assessor’s Office to determine the property owner, residents under lease for vacant lots are included in the city marshal’s notification responsibilities.
“From what I understand, you’ve got a handful of people really abusing (the old ordinance),” Brotherton said. “Communication is 99 percent of it. I want to work with the city and continue to be a good neighbor.”
After becoming aware of the changes, Brotherton said he met with city leaders and he understands their position, but he still hopes further adjustments to the ordinance will be considered.
He recommends that residents or tenants be held responsible for the upkeep of property, since there are times when a problem arises before notification is delivered to the actual property owner. Even if the resident is expected to maintain the property, the owners must answer in court.
Pieper explains that oftentimes water accounts remain active long after a resident leaves a property and that from the city’s perspective, the property owner is ultimately responsible.
The only other addition besides the limit of two notifications is a requirement that yard upkeep extend to the right of way on the front and rear of a property.
“It has to be well-grown over before we actually respond. We actually try to use common sense and try not to nit-pick,” said Pieper.
For more information about the update grass ordinance, contact the Community Development department at (229) 259-3560.
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