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Sunday, May 4, 2008

Revenue Producing Scheme?

Most people understand the need to maintain their property to sustain an appealing neighborhood. In cases where a property is truly neglected posing a nuisance to others, indeed action needs to be taken. Unfortunately, some do not have the means to upkeep their yards in a manner that satisfies the community. A host of circumstances could be the cause for the lack of attention to a homeowner’s lawn care. A resident friendly approach to this matter would be to identify the homes experiencing difficulties. If indeed many homes required return visits by the City Service Department, has there been any inquiry as to the nature of the problem? Certainly if the home is occupied by an elderly or disabled person, an alternative approach to a fine might be in order. Can we not as a community come together to assist those in need? Perhaps the Councilpersons could come to the aid of their constituents by helping to analyze the reasons for the non-compliance. If some individuals are simply unable to comply for whatever the reason, this should not be an opportunity for the City to exploit them. How do we as citizens know that enforcement of this program will be implemented in a fair and consistent manner?

According to the article, there were 763 lawns that required mowing by City crews in the year 2007. If the cutting cycle was determined to be May through November, the amount of cuts per month would be 109. That equates to approximately 3.6 cuts per day. Of course, the months of July and August generally require less cutting.

The article also states that the average cost per mowing is $175. Now, let’s do some more math. There are 9 properties owned by the City on Greenvale Drive. At $175 per cut, each time the Greenvale 9 lots are mowed, the cost to the taxpayers will be $1575. During the months that require a once a week visit by the Service Department, that cost will be $6300 per month.

Could it be possible that this is a substitute money making plan for the "Point-of-Sale" inspection fee in the event it is voted down in November?

Please click on article to view full size.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Are you kidding me? I'd be more than happy to mow the lawns for the city at a cost of $170 per cut.

How can they justify $175 per cut? Is that the going rate landscapers charge in South Euclid?

Anonymous said...

Hold on there,
I'll do it for $160/yard cash.
The city saves $15/yard and they don't have to pay my bennys.
I drove by Clutter Creek last week and that place needs more than a good cut. Subpar landscaping and retention basins with shaggy grass.
WOW......where are the priorities? For the taxes we pay, the service dept should cut everyone's lawn. If you want to do your own then you get a Get-Out-Of-Jail-Free-Card or some other perk.

Anonymous said...

It's damned well about time that the city started to impose some punitive fines in an effort to correct behavior.

I have elderly neighbors who have had difficulty cutting grass, but a simple call to the building/service department takes care of that issue. The city is remarkably good about forgiving people who have a legitimate reason for not being able to cut their grass.

The problem is with the landlords/tenants/vacant properties/lazy homeowners who let their yards go and then the rest of us have to live with it. Previously the city was very lax in fining people - with a $30 slap on the wrist as usual. Hell, it's cheaper to let the city cut the grass than to hire a landscape company at that point.

I hardly think this to be a revenue boosting measure ($4 million surplus), but good policy. I cut the grass myself for neighbors on each side of me who are elderly. I'm just sick and tired of the people across the street who feel for some reason they don't have to cut their grass. Maybe this will make them think twice before ignoring their lawn mower for the fifth week in a row....

Anonymous said...

If the city is remarkably good about forgiving those who have a good excuse for not cutting their grass, why do you have to cut your neighbors lawns. Sounds to me like you know an awful lot about how they operate. What department do you work in.

Anonymous said...

I had the houses on both sides of me for sale all last summer. I took the extra 20 minutes and 3 ounces of gas and cut their lawns for them. What's the big deal? Maybe I should charge the city for MY services.

$175 is absolutely criminal. How many of you have paid the teenager on your block $175 to cut your grass? If you did, you must be smoking some.

Anonymous said...

Once I grew my hair too long. No one liked the way it looked. The city came by and cut it for $175 without asking me.

Anonymous said...

Who pays for the mowing of all the foreclosed homes? I doubt the city will figure out how to charge the banks and if they do it will probably be at a reasonable rate.

Anonymous said...

The rate is so high so that there is a deterrent from letting it get that way. Not so the city can make money, and to answer you question about foreclosures. It is my understanding that the city does charge the banks to mow the yards.

If your neighbor or someone around you has a situation that they can't mow their lawn why are you not being a good neighbor and helping them out. Why is that the cities responsibility. I know that last weekend a block got together to spruce up their block. It took a few hours and neighbors and volunteers working together to take care of the yards of the elderly, disabled, and single moms. It brought the whole community together and made everyones street look nicer.

It just takes a little bit of neighborly kindness on your part and no one will get fined that doesn't deserve it.

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