Planning, Zoning and Code Administrator Stephen Thompson said the final cost for the clean up was $900, which was much less than the city originally thought it would be. That cost and a $100 administrative fee will be billed to the property owner.
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The clean up job was given to Gilbert’s Lawn Service last month.
The property had been on the city code enforcement department’s radar for several months, accompanied by several complaints from neighbors who were tired of picking up the junk that would blow into their own yards.
At the peak of the mess, complaints were being filed almost on a daily basis.
Thompson said the tenant who was living in that house was evicted in December. They were operating an auto business out of their home, which is a violation against zoning codes.
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He said the city put the clean up project out to bid in December after the tenant was evicted.
Since that time, the amount of garbage on the property increased. The city then had to rebid the project because the contractors’ prices could change due to an increased amount of trash to clean up.
“Anytime we can get junk and trash removed, especially at large sites like this, it improves the quality of life for the neighbors and hopefully curtails this activity from happening in the future,” Thompson said.
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