City of Peabody to control weeds
Following discussion by the Peabody City Council and health and safety officer Deb Buser at two recent meetings, results of some research into ordinances regulating weed control was presented to council by city administrator Jeff Benbrook at the Sept. 25 meeting.
Council members and Buser had sought information on whether the city or adjoining property owners were responsible for keeping alleys (including closed alleys), curbs, gutters, streets, and rights of way free of weeds and grass.
Benbrook found reference to such nuisance issues in Peabody city ordinances.
"The most notable properties are those where the city has returned the alley to the property owners," said Benbrook. "A good example is the 600 block between Walnut and Vine. The city abandoned that alley years ago and returned the property to the adjoining property owners.
"The adjoining owners are responsible for keeping the weeds down as they own all of the property behind their homes to the center of the abandoned alley," he said.
He said it was possible that the ordinance was changed so many years ago that none of the current residents were living in that block when it was done and are unaware they are supposed to be caring for the area at the back of their property.
Also included in City Code 7-301 is a provision to require homeowners to eradicate weeds, grass, and seedlings that may grow to more than 12 inches in height in sidewalks, gutters, curbing, rights of way, streets, or easements.
"Property owners will be cited if they allow grass and weeds to get taller than a foot in any area adjoining their property, public or private," said Benbrook.
Many of the problems stem from lack of knowledge or understanding about just whose job it is to remove the growth before it becomes a blight or nuisance.
Informal letters have gone out to property owners to encourage them to address the weeds and grasses. Benbrook and Buser will track the properties in question and work with owners to become compliant.
For more information or to find out if a particular property presents a problem, people may call the city building at 983-2174.
