Covington, LA - It's a new grass cutting program aimed at improving the quality of life of St. Tammany Parish residents. But people who don't cut their grass, and don't pay a parish fine...could receive a lien on their properties.
Angelia Pea says for years, many of her Covington neighbors have let their grass and yards, get out of control. "The value of our property is brought down by the trash and debris and its hurricane season. There's going to be a lot of debris falling, there's going to be trees falling, limbs falling, and we need to just kind of get a grip on it now," Pea said.
St. Tammany Parish President Pat Brister says she wants all unruly yards to be tamed. The parish has established a new program, where residents can call in complaints about their neighbors yards, if the grass is taller than 15 inches.
"There are habitual offenders that we're talking about right now so it's not fair to that neighborhood that everybody else keeps their yard and their property very neat and clean, and one person can just mar the whole area," Brister said.
She points out, many yards with tall grass, also serve as a breeding ground for rodents and trash usually ends up there too. Brister says once a problem property is identified, the owner is given ten days to clean it up.
"We send them a letter, we notice them that in ten days, if you have not done something about this, then we will do it. We will cut the grass, clean it up, and then you will be billed the $300," Brister explained.
If the fine isn't paid, it's put on the homeowner's tax bill. If the taxes aren't paid, a lien will be placed on the property.
Angelia Pea thinks these new rules are perfectly fair saying "If they're going to give them ten days, you actually have a chance not to get charged. So I don't feel too bad for the property owner. If they get ten days and they still don't do anything, its time to get charged."
The program is being started with $15,000. That money will help pay parish employees who have to cut the grass, if a homeowner doesn't do it themselves within ten days.
