The City of Atlantic is once again issuing a warning to residents about keeping their lawns mowed and not allowing the clippings to be blown into the streets. City Adminstrator Doug Harris said at Wednesday night’s City Council meeting, that City crews are getting behind in mowing properties they are receiving complaints about, because of the volume of calls being received.  He says the Parks and Rec, and Wastewater Department staff are handling nuisance abatement’s for mowing tall grass, but they’ve had a hard time catching up because grass at the parks still has to be mowed as well. Harris said under City Ordinance, notices aren’t sent out until grass becomes 12-inches tall.

If they fail to comply, the City mows it and bills the property owner at rates which are nearly double what it would have cost the land owner to have the problem taken care of on their own. Harris said the City needs to reconsider how to better enforce the ordinance, especially with regard to repeat offenders, and the Council seemed to agree. Mayor Dave Jones reminded citizens and business owners in Atlantic about the Ordinance prohibiting grass clippings from being blown onto City streets.

Jones said he’s received numerous complaints about grass being blown into the streets. Those clippings enter the storm sewer and clog the system, which requires man hours to clean out, and can contribute to increased costs which are passed along to the taxpayer. Jones said if residents and business owners would simply make sure the clippings are blown back onto the lawn, there would be no need for citations being issued when complaints are followed-up on.