On Monday evening, the Frankfort City Common Council approved amending the noxious weed ordinance to allow for more expeditious enforcement and removal of excessively overgrown weeds and grass.
According to Chief Troy Bacon, “In January the City Code Enforcement division was transitioned to the police department. As a result, several city ordinances needed to be amended to accommodate the change; including the noxious weed ordinance”.
Under the newly amended ordinance, when Code Enforcement officers identify noxious weeds or grass violations and notify the landowner, landowners now have five (5) days from the date of the notice being served to correct the ordinance violation instead of ten (10). After five days have passed, city mowing crews will cut the grass at the landowner’s expense.
“Reducing the time a landowner or tenant has to correct the violation will cut down on unwanted rodents and mosquitos living in the weeds and grass. It will also stop a small problem from growing into a much larger one and help alleviate visual blight in a neighborhood”, said Bacon. “As a reminder, grass exceeding seven inches in height violates the ordinance and will be enforced by Code Enforcement Officers.”
Other changes to the ordinance include expanding the method of violation notifications and delivery for Code Enforcement Officers. Property owners who dispute a violation notice may appeal the notice by filing a written notice of appeal with the Frankfort Police Department no later than five days after such notice is served.
No ordinance violation fines or penalties were changed.