Weeds No Weeds, Editor's Comments

It recently came to my attention while out collecting news stories that there seems to be something "weedy" around town in Shelby. On several properties I have spotted the familiar letter sized notice from the City of Shelby which tells the owner about the city's weed ordinance. That notice also tells the owner that they are in violation of the weed ordinance and that they need to get into compliance. Basically the ordinance states that if the property owner remains out of compliance for a stated time period, the city will enter their property and alleviate the weed problem. When the city does this, they then bill the property owner for the "service" rendered. I have no real problem with this, weeds do get out of control and something needs to be done, both from the unsightliness and the spread of seeds to other properties. What does bring me to publish my comments is the way the city goes about enforcing this ordinance. While some properties are hit hard, at a reported $125 an hour bill from the city, others are left alone... Some prominent properties have weeds, weeds and more weeds and nothing happens. In one photo below, weeds grow and spread seeds from the west across town. This location is also one of the first places that travelers see when entering our town from the west and one of the last things they see when leaving. In the other business photo, junk filled with weeds disturbs residents and their visitors who work hard to keep weeds from their homes and business properties. The places with the weed notices also seem to be distressed properties whereas the ones filled with weeds are thriving businesses where the owners are "flush" with money. I am not out to pick on anyone, our office has been out of compliance with the weed ordinance in the past. We also did not get a notice, so the point is that there is off balance and low enforcement... I hope that the city does the right thing next year so I can shut up about this...
Gus
Editor in Chief
NBMC

Click photos for larger view.




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