With more rainfall come more weeds – and a “few more” city code violations.
The number of code enforcement citations issued for overgrown weeds inside city limits wasn’t available, but one official said recent rains have led to additional tickets.
“We’ve received a few more complaints than normal for this time of year,” said Municipal Court Clerk Carla Odell.
Joe James, a 30-year resident of South Madison Street, received a June 10 courtesy notice from the city telling him that tall weeds and rubbish in his yard were a nuisance. The notice instructed him to cut the weeds and clean the yard by July 1.
“I didn’t mow the yard,” said James. “I guess that’s a federal offense.”
James immediately cut his frontyard, but it was another June 10 letter from the city that really irked him. The second notice, which included photos of several automobiles in his driveway and his fenced-in backyard, instructed James to remove the vehicles by July 15 or face a $500 fine.
“No one has ever complained about my backyard,” said James. “And no one should be in my driveway looking into my backyard.”
In an attempt to inspire other residents that have been “harassed” and “threatened” by Cortez code enforcement officials, James purchased a half-page advertisement in The Cortez Journal last week. With the words, “Wanted Dead or Alive,” the ad was a satirical attempt to secure additional fencing in order to “keep the lawn cop from trespassing” onto his property.
“He’s a bully,” James said of code enforcement officer Bob Lindvall. “He intimidates people.”
Odell, on the other hand, described Lindvall differently.
“He is really ambitious,” said Odell. “He wants to get the city cleaned up.”
In response, James said the city should be more proactive in cutting weeds along public right-of-ways before ticketing private property owners.
“They got three guys in every pickup riding around doing nothing,” said James.
James said his greatest concern was that code enforcement officers are able to go onto private property uninvited. James added that he didn’t file an official complaint with the city, per se, but he did call Lindvall.
“I didn’t threaten him,” said James. “I promised him that if he ever came onto my property again that I was going to whip his ass.”
The message was apparently received, because three police officers paid James a visit. They politely warned him that he couldn’t threaten code enforcement officials, and advised him to take his grievance to City Hall. James said he was planning to attend the next city council meeting, which is held Tuesday, June 23.
“When I saw the pictures of someone tromping around in my backyard, that really pissed me off,” said James. “It’s aggravating.”
For the past decade, James said he has spent about $100 every summer buying poison to kill the weeds in his and a neighbor’s lawns, but the weeds got a jump-start this year because of heavy rainfall.
“Nobody can see the weeds but me,” said James. “When I have some extra time to waste, then I’ll cut them down.”
“I don’t have time for the silliness that matters to no one but me,” he said. “I do my best to keep the yard neat and tidy.”
“I figure what’s in my backyard is my business and no one else’s,” he said concluded. “But the world don’t act like that today. Nobody minds their own business.”
Most of the city’s weed-related code enforcement tickets result from citizen complaints, said Odell. Those who are ticketed receive ample time to comply and most eventually do, she said.
“In every case, the judge will grant more time if it’s needed,” said Odell.
Once in compliance, residents routinely have fines suspended and tickets dismissed, according to Odell.
But, she said, There’s a $32 court cost.”
tbaker@cortezjournal.com