GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK)- Reports of uncut grass in residential neighborhoods has become a problem for the City of Green Bay. Now the Department of Public Works is left cleaning up the unsightly mess.
According to the city’s ordinance, grass over nine inches results in crews cutting the grass after giving a 24-hour notice.
Property owners are given an invoice based on the amount of equipment and time required to complete the work.
Tony Fietzer, a supervisor for the department, says residents are billed anywhere between $60-65 every 15 minutes.
“Our city ordinance requires us to cut yards anything over nine inches and we have seen several 100 complaints from residents complaining of other properties that haven’t been maintained,” says Fietzer. “This time of year with leases coming up and people leaving, they don’t take care of it. Or landlords that don’t live in the area and they think the tenant is taking care of it and they’re not.”
Jack Rougg is one of many residents who is fed up with this ongoing issue.
He lives next door to a vacant home and says little has been done to maintain the yard since the tenants moved out in December.
“Because of the fact with mosquitoes and stuff this is just an infestation waiting to happen and I would like to see it gone too,” says Rougg.
While the property owners are ultimately responsible for the maintenance of the landscape, officials from public works say they’re hoping residents will step up to make the city a nice place to live for everyone.
