Updated Weed Ordinance Passes Council
Oskaloosa, Iowa – How fast does your grass grow?
Those concerns were some of the initial thoughts brought forward by council member Tom Walling, who expressed concerns that the new ordinance setting grass height to 8” over the previous 12” inch height may cause some concern.
The question then turned to developed properties versus undeveloped properties and the responsibility for mowing lawns at the different types of properties.
Council member Doug Yates said he didn’t see it as an issue; that undeveloped properties, such as some fields that fall within the city limits, wouldn’t fall under the guidelines for mowing.
Most instances of lawns being mowed due to the weed infraction is that “probably someone’s got something against them [landowners]”, said Aaron VerSteeg. VerSteeg says he remembers one time in the past of a field being turned in.
“The city employees are going to go out and look now, versus taking complaints,” said Walling.
Oskaloosa City Manager said that the new obnoxious weed ordinance would be handled as in previous years, and the focus will be on addressing residential compliance. Schrock did say that with few exceptions, the code does apply to all properties within the city, including pastures. “We have enough on our plate to deal with residential properties.”
The third and final reading of the updated weed ordinance passed unanimously.
The updated weed ordinance is as follows:
Notable changes to the new ordinance include:
Notification requirement – remove annual publication of ordinance via the Oskaloosa Herald. Provide notice to violating properties by posting on site for three days prior to mowing/trimming (staff will still provide an annual reminder through public service announcements and the city’s website).
Height change – Reduce threshold for a violation from 12 inches to 8 inches.
Broaden the enforcement period – Removing specific months to comply with grass/weed cutting requirements; they need to be mowed/trimmed all year.
According to the City of Oskaloosa, going forward,
public notice will no longer be published in the Oskaloosa Herald. City Staff will provide reminders through public service announcements and the city’s website.
City staff will now enforce this amended ordinance year-round. Staff will be taking a proactive approach; looking for properties, and taking reports of properties thought to be in violation of the new height standard of 8 inches. Properties found in violation will be given a written notice, allowing three days to bring the property into voluntary compliance. After the three days have passed, the property will be revisited to check for compliance. If the property is non-compliant, the property will be mowed, and mowing fees will be charged to the property owner.
Citizens may log a weed complaint through the City of Oskaloosa website; www.oskaloosaiowa.org. Click on the “HOW DO I” tab, then click on “request city services” from the drop-down menu, or call the Oskaloosa Fire Department at 641-673-3541, Ext 2.
Editing by Ginger Allsup
