MOUNT VERNON — As the temperatures start to rise and the rain starts to fall in Mount Vernon, that means one thing — the grass will be growing.
And as the grass begins growing, city officials and council members begin to hear from residents about high grass sprouting up in their neighborhood.
“We’ve had some rain, so that’s clearly motivated the calls and letters about high grass,” said Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Mavis. “The other thing we see this time of year is when the trees get their foliage, the weight causes the limbs to drop a bit and block the view at intersections.”
The city has ordinances that deal with both high grass and the trimming of trees and shrubbery. The grass ordinance states that properties may not have weeds, grass or plants grow to a height exceeding 8 inches. The tree ordinance states that the lowest branches of trees, plants or shrubbery have to be 8 feet above the street or sidewalk, and that they should not obstruct the view of traffic from all directions at an intersection.
Once a high grass call is received by a city official, Mavis said, he or she sends someone out to verify the problem. Then, city workers will cut the grass and charge the property owner for the cost of the trimming. The city will continue to mow the property unless the property owner begins taking care of the problem. There are additional fees for each violation and the cost may be placed on the owner’s property taxes.