By Judy Seifert (Contact / Staff Bio)
June 7, 2008 - 12:00 a.m. EST

MILLINGTON -- If you own vacant land or property that has been foreclosed on and haven’t bothered to cut the grass lately, then be prepared to pay someone else to mow it for you. If you don’t, then village Department of Public Works employees will cut it for you, but it will cost.

Last year, so many complaints were received at the village office that village trustees revised an existing ordinance that addresses the problem by requiring residents/property owners to remove any weeds, grass or brush exceeding a height of six inches above ground level. If a parcel is found to be in violation of the ordinance, a notice will be sent.

After the 10-day period, if nothing has changed, DPW workers or an outside contractor will mow the grass and the property owner charged the minimum fee set according to a Schedule of Fees that has been in place for several years now.

But what’s good for one must be good for all, village officials say. That means all village residents must comply with the ordinance.

Another good reason for keeping lawns and yards mowed? Mosquitos. Tuscola County’s mosquito abatement program kicked in last week. Weekly spraying in the village will continue throughout the summer months,

Last June, when the ordinance was revised, some residents were concerned with the six-inch height but council members explained the reasoning behind the limit. "By the time grass, brush or weeds get to the six inch height and a notice is sent to the homeowner, which includes a 10-day response period, the problem could have doubled or tripled," officials said.

The cost for having a lawn cut by village workers was set at $110.

Officials said the old ordinance did not allow DPW workers to mow unkept lawns more than twice a season. Homes that have been foreclosed on by banks or mortgage companies are a particular problem because neither is responsible for the upkeep of the property.

The only way the village can recoup its money from foreclosed property is to attach a lien against the property on the village tax roll. The same hold true for residents. Any charges that remain unpaid annually will be assessed against the property.

Judy Seifert is a staff writer for the Tuscola County Advertiser. She can be reached at seifert@tcadvertiser.com.