City cracking down on nuisance cases

By Staff
Clif Knight, Hartselle Enquirer
A change in the way the city of Hartselle is handling nuisance abatement cases involving tall grass and weeds or trash could land a violator in municipal court without a second notice.
He said at least two cases for violation of the nuisance ordinance are on the docket for the next court session May 24.
Section 50-36 of the nuisance ordinance requires every person owning, residing on or having charge or control of any premises or vacant lot to keep the weeds, grass and vegetation cut to within 12 inches of the ground and remove any accumulation of trash or debris.
“When a complaint comes in Derrick Woodall, code compliance inspector, conducts a field investigation to verify whether or not a violation exists,” Johnson said. “If one does, a notice is given in writing to the person owning, residing on or having charge or control of the property. Failure to heed the notice within 10 calendar days from the receipt of the notice will be followed by a summons to appear in court on a misdemeanor charge.
Johnson said his department has handled 385 nuisance cases so far this year. Of that number, 375 have been resolved.”
A fine of up to $500 per day for each day a violation continues to exist may be imposed by order of the municipal judge.