Village goes after tall grass

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by Jeff Saunders

Reporter

Northfield Village -- Tall grass at vacant homes is a summer problem in many communities, but Northfield Village officials hope several dozen neglected properties around town will be cleaned up soon.

"I take this personally," said Mayor Victor Milani June 11. "It doesn't bode well for us."

Milani said that he and Police Chief Mark Wentz recently toured village residential streets and counted numerous properties with grass and weeds higher than the 8 inches allowed under the village's zoning and building code. Some of the homes also had maintenance issues, such as peeling paint and a lack of gutters, which he said also violates the code.

He mentioned Magnolia Avenue in particular, saying some properties there are "absurd."

Village Service Director Jason Walters said notices were sent this month to about three dozen property owners warning them to fix the problem, with high grass being the predominant issue.

"This is their one warning," Milani said of the letters. "Usually they get five to 10 days to address the problem."

About 25 of the properties are vacant, Walters noted.

"People are losing their homes," he said. "The banks are the ones that own them and getting them to respond is a problem."

Village Law Director Brad Bryan said in many cases, it is difficult to a file criminal charge -- which would be a minor misdemeanor charge of failure to control weeds and grass.

"The problem is you need a body to take to court, and if it's an out-of-state mortgage company, we really can't do it," he said.

Milani, however, said that the village can at least deal with the tall grass by mowing it and sending a $100-per-manhour bill to the owners. If the owner does not pay it, the debt can be added to the property tax bill. Walters said June 13 that service workers planned to mow the first four neglected properties that day.

Wentz noted one property, which has an owner in residence, includes an empty lot and is occupied by 14 derelict vehicles, many of which are filled with debris. Car batteries, bicycles and old tires are spread around the grounds, he said.

According to Cuyahoga Falls Municipal Court, the village filed a second-degree misdemeanor charge of failure to maintain housing against the homeowner in May 2005. The homeowner pleaded not guilty, the records state, but the homeowner was found guilty of the charge in January 2006.

He was given a 90-day suspended jail sentence and fined $750, all of which was suspended. Wentz said the court ordered the homeowner to clean up the property.

"We've gone after him in the past, and we'll go after him again," said Wentz.

E-mail: jsaunders@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3169