PV City official addresses property maintenance issues

By Jim Richardson

Spring is in the air and the wetter, warmer weather is causing grass and weeds all over Garvin County to begin to grow at an alarming rate.

While many local land owners maintain their property quite well, others are allowing weeds and grass to get out of control and, according to Pauls Valley Code Enforcement Officer, Jason Selmon, that could pose serious health issues for the people of the surrounding community.

“Some people don’t realize what the warmer temperatures bring. It can result in problems with mosquitos, snakes, flies, rodents, ticks and vermin, and the culprit — tall grass and weeds.

“The eight fatalities in Oklahoma alone from the West Nile Virus should be more than enough initiative to keep the mosquito levels down. And even though there is no way to totally prevent these nuisances, there is a way to reduce infestation,” Selmon said.

“One of the main ways is to keep yards cut low and weeds removed from properties. According to state law and Pauls Valley ordinances, it is a nuisance violation to have breeding places for mosquitoes and vermin, like tall grass and weeds.”

As Selmon explained it, city ordinances define illegal grass and weeds as vegetation which exceeds 12 inches.

Vegetation exempt are “healthy trees, shrubs or produce for human consumption grown in a tended and cultivated garden, unless such trees and shrubbery by their density or location constitute a detriment to the health, benefit and welfare of the public and community.”

Along with keeping grass and weeds under control, Selmon said land owners can avoid creating additional health hazards by keeping their property clear of junk and trash.

“People need to keep junk and junk vehicles removed from their property along with implements of husbandry, whether the residence is vacant or not. They also must keep all trash and refuse in proper containers,” Selmon noted.

“It’s important to make sure there are no breeding places for insects and vermin such as wells, pools, cisterns, old car tires, swimming pools as well as any standing water in which mosquitoes are likely to breed.”

Selmon said it is the responsibility of landlords to maintain their property and if they don’t abide by city regulations, then his department will be forced to take action as in times past and that could prove to be rather inconvenient and costly.

“During the summer of 2007 the Code Enforcement Department mailed and posted 218 warning letters, mowed and cleaned about 49 properties at a cost of $6,150 and imposed 25 liens on properties that were unpaid,” Selmon said.

“The City paid insured contractors to do the cleaning and mowing and the average cost of getting each job done was $150. With that in mind it would be cheaper for the homeowner to do it instead of the City of Pauls Valley.

“Taking care of property is really a good situation for everyone because it saves people money, cuts down on health issues and increases the overall beauty of the city.”

For more information on city ordinances governing property maintenance, contact Pauls Valley City Hall at 405-238-3308, extension 114.