As temperatures warm, spring comes into bloom and grass begins to grow, it is up to Great Bend Property Maintenance Enforcement Manager Austin Laviolette to lay down the lawn law.

“We all want a clean city,” he said. So, now, he just wants to get the word out to owners to keep their properties maintained before things get out of hand.

Property Maintenance Enforcement recorded 1,315 total complaints in 2019, Laviolette said. Of those, 381 were reported by citizens with the rest initiated by his staff. “That was up from the previous year, but part of that was that we were being more aggressive.”

Of that number, 575 were for trash and refuse, 217 were for motor vehicles, 471 were for vegetation, one for an animal, 26 for illegal dumping and 15 failing to meet “minimum standards” (catch-all term for some larger vegetation violations). For 10 of the total, the city didn’t take any action or write any citations.

What would he ask from residents? The number of public complaints is way down and his staff initiates 90 percent of the cases. 

“I think its pretty important for people to get along with their neighbors,” he said. “I think it would be better for people to work things out with their neighbors first before you get us involved.”

According to ordinances, grass is in violation if it is at least one foot tall. But, that can be tough to judge, especially if it is right next to a freshly mowed yard, he said.

That being said, “we would like more people letting us know of these violations,” Laviolette said. But, the have to be patient.

“It may take a while for us to act on them,” he said. There may be a lot of cases in the pipeline in various stages of completion.

And, he noted, the process from complaint to resolution can be a long one.

As for the owner of the overgrown yard, “we want to work with you,” he said. “But, in order to do that, we have to hear from  you.”

It is all about getting more cases closed, he said.

 What is an abatement?

An abatement notice is served on the owner or occupier of a property on which there has been a complaint, warning of the city’s intention to enter the land in order to abate (or eliminate) the nuisance by city crews. The cost of this is assessed to the owner.

What constitutes violations?

Overgrown vegetation in the city limits is a violation of city Ordinance 15.70. 

According to the city’s website, here is how violations are handled:

• The owner and/or resident of the property is notified and told that if the violation is not corrected the property may be abated. City Council approval for this action is not necessary. A violation is considered if vegetation at or above one foot tall. 

If the property is in violation:

• The property owner will be sent a notice to abate by certified mail allowing 10 days to correct it. If not corrected, the city will mow the property at the owner’s expense.

• Photos will be taken before and after the abatement

• Owners will be sent a bill for the abatement costs payable within 30 days, after which it will be assessed to the property taxes. 

Violations can come from more than just overgrown vegetation, according to city ordinances. Other issues are:

Trash and refuse

The accumulation of trash and refuse on a property is in violation of Ordinance 8.08. 

The following items are considered trash and refuse:

• Furniture

• Appliances

• Household trash

• Automobile parts (including tires)

• Construction debris

• Tree debris and other yard waste

• Any debris that is capable of being a place for vermin to live and breed

• Scrap metal

If a property is found to be in violation, the owner will be notified verbally or in writing what the violation consists of, what has to be done to correct it, and the time frame you have to correct it.

If no movement has been done by the deadline, a notice to abate the property will be sent to the owner containing the date the violation will be discussed by the council.

Vehicle nuisances

Inoperable vehicles are not allowed in the City of Great Bend unless they are hidden from public view by a solid wood fence or inside a garage by Ordinance 10.20. Vehicle nuisances are unsightly and a source of danger to children.

An inoperable vehicle is a vehicle that is not currently tagged, wrecked, abandoned or in any state that does not allow them to operate on a street legally.

If a vehicle is in violation, the property owner will receive a notice that they have 30 days to correct it. If not corrected, the property owner will receive a certified letter stating the matter will be brought before the council to consider abatement of the vehicle.

For more information, contact the Sanitation Division of the Public Works Department at 620-793-4150.