Published: May 12, 2008 04:14 pm            

City amplifies code compliance program

Not mowing could get expensive

Galen Scott

gscott@weatherforddemocrat.com

Weatherford residents have big incentive to keep the lawn mower gassed-up and running this summer.

If grasses or weeds in any given yard are allowed to grow higher than 10 inches, and a notified property owner doesn’t take action within 10 days, the city will pay a private contractor to mow.

However, the property owner is then legally obligated to reimburse the city for the amount of money charged by the mowing contractor.

What’s more, the city council decided in March private land owners can be held responsible for failure to maintain public rights-of-way adjacent to their land.

Most of what is identified as right-of-way exists along either side of roads, streets and highways inside the city — known as roadway rights-of-way (RROW). However, alleys, areas behind fenced developments and other lands — distinguishable as neighborhood rights-of-way (NROW) — also count.

The city pays private contractors to maintain non-compliant NROW, with the responsible property owner expected to cover the cost. However, the city signed an agreement last September to pay Parker County Precinct 3 $50 per hour to mow RROW.

The city council also agreed city staff should be able to bill the responsible property owner, when warranted, at a rate of 25 cents per linear foot or $25 for every 100 linear feet of right-of-way when County mowers are utilized under the agreement.

An explanation released by the city states, “Staff identified a number of rights-of-way that were consistently difficult to bring into compliance in a timely manner. Unfortunately, in many cases, voluntary compliance, letters of abatement, and citations did not result in compliance.”

According to the city, Precinct 3 is mowing a number of areas where local contractors are unable to provide service because of difficult terrain, which, in order to mow safely, would require expensive or specialized equipment.

Weatherford Assistant City Manger Jerry Blaisdell stressed the city is not going to hold private citizens responsible for such areas, or in circumstances where mowing would create an undue hardship. He also noted billing will not occur until all property owners have been given ample time to bring their property into compliance.

“What we’re trying to do is, be fair and objective about looking at that and saying, ‘What is reasonable for us to expect people to maintain this property?’” Blaisdell said. “If it is not reasonable, either due to some physical condition that the people have, or some particulars of the terrain that would make it difficult to maintain ... there’s a number of things that we’re going to take into consideration when we do that.”

According to Brent Smith, the city’s assistant director of public works, Precinct 3 has already mowed Weatherford’s RROW once this year, and could mow two or three more times, depending on rainfall.

Many of the areas Precinct 3 recently finished mowing are located along Bowie Drive, Old Dicey Road and Fort Worth Highway. Smith said the first mowing cycle resulted in better visibility and improved traffic safety at city intersections.

The scope of Weatherford’s agreement with Parker County was enlarged to include more area in March. Blaisdell said the agreement could be amended again, if the city identifies more right-of-way that needs maintaining.

A map of areas mowed by Weatherford Utilities, Public Works, and the Parks and Recreation department can be located under “For Residents” on the city’s Web site at weatherfordtx.gov.

The city is encourages anyone with questions regarding rights-of-way mowing inside the Weatherford city limits to contact Smith at (817) 598-4240.

        

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