City Officials Begin Crackdown On Negligent Properties
5.16.11

WRTV

INDIANAPOLIS -- Metro mowing crews cut down high grass as part of a city-wide crackdown on negligent property owners on Friday.
Residents in one Indianapolis neighborhood said they were fed up with overgrown grass and that mowing is a big step in weeding out crime in their community.
Jeremy Lang, a mower with Indy Land Service, mowed several yards on Friday that were in violation, 6News' Ericka Flye reported.
"From the rain and stuff we've had, the grass is growing a lot quicker and it's getting a lot thicker," Lang said.
The Department of Code Enforcement sent mowing crews throughout Indy to tackle the weeds and grass, where private property owners have let grow over 12 inches.
"We did have people out looking for violations, and in addition we do have people call the Mayor's Action Center," said Kate Johnson, public information officer with the Department of Code Enforcement.
Johnson said in 2010, more than 10,000 properties were in violation and had to be mowed. So far this year, crews have already cited 1,900 properties that need to be mowed.
Some of the repeat offenders are local but many owners live out of state and don't keep up with their property, Johnson said.
East side resident Velma Hill said the high grass and abandoned homes in her neighborhood invite crime.
"If (the yards) are left undone, it takes down the value of the whole neighborhood," Hill said.
Hill and her neighbors were happy that the mowing crews were able to give them a better view.
"We need it. We can only do so much as a group," Hill said.
Once a property owner is cited, they have five days to mow the yard on their own, or the city will mow and send them the bill.
To report overgrown grass and weeds, call the Mayor's Action Line at 317-327-4MAC.
http://www.theindychannel.com/news/27888543/detail.html