558 N. Main St., Prineville, OR 97754 | (541) 447-6205
Last week, when local insurance agent Chet Peterson brought photos of 13 overgrown vacated properties to the Prineville City Council, he made a good point.
Poorly maintained properties are not only an eyesore, they may also be a safety or health issue as well.
The problem is not new, but seems to have worsened recently. According to Prineville Police Chief Eric Bush, the police department currently has 46 open cases concerning weeds and noxious vegetation.
City ordinance 93.40 clearly states that weeds or grass taller than 10 inches is illegal unless it constitutes an agricultural crop. The ordinance also makes vegetation that is a fire hazard or which impairs the public view of a thoroughfare illegal.
Bush said that enforcement of nuisance laws such as the weed ordinance is very labor intensive and time consuming.
Because of economic conditions, the city has the equivalent of three fewer officers than in the past — an approximately 20 percent decrease in staffing. Currently, only one city police officer works on enforcement of nuisance laws.
The enforcement officer is not just responsible for enforcing noxious plant laws. There are also ordinances concerning wells and holes, fences, attractive nuisances, snow and ice, rubbish, trees, noise, burning, and parking.
Bush noted that this year, noxious weeds have been an especially large problem.
“All the foreclosures and vacant homes along with the late spring and all the rain have made for a perfect storm,” Bush said.
Working with properties owners to bring it into compliance is the preferred choice for the Prineville Police Department.
Should that not work, the department may issue a citation, and as a last resort pay someone to have the work done and put a lien on the property.
Bush added that because many foreclosures are owned by out-of-town banks and mortgage firms, making contact with owners to bring a property into compliance has been more difficult this year than in the past.
We agree that enforcing nuisance laws is a labor intensive and time-consuming job. However, we also believe that it is critical to the livability of the community that these laws are enforced and complied with. Ideally, residents of Prineville should be aware of applicable nuisance laws and follow the rules on their own. In the event that does not occur, then it is critical that the city enforces the laws as quickly as possible.
This isn’t just about weeds. People parking motor homes on streets block traffic and impair visibility. Basketball hoops sit on the streets in several neighborhoods making a safety hazard. Weeds block views on several city corners as well as creating fire hazards.
Having a clean community is also critical for economic development. Enticing businesses to come to Prineville is much easier if the town looks inviting.
If Prineville is to be a clean, friendly, and economically-enticing community, then these nuisance laws need to be enforced.
Peterson and Bush are both right. There is a problem, and the problem does require a lot of time and energy from a police department that is already stretched thin. The answer is really quite simple.
People need to take pride in where they live and pick up after themselves.
When that doesn’t work, then enforcement may be the only other option.
