Cape receives 2,160 calls about nuisances so far in '08

When Ty Metzger, the nuisance abatement supervisor for the Cape Girardeau Police Department, isn't busy collecting snakes that have wandered into buildings or rescuing neglected animals, he's busy responding to complaints about zoning or overgrown yards.

Metzger, two full-time officers and one part-time worker have responded to 2,160 calls so far this year. Last year, 7,488 complaints were filed with the police department over animals, trash, zoning and weeds or tall grass.

Nuisance abatement officers deal with minimum property standards for building exteriors and yards. Most people won't meet an officer unless it involves extremes: too-tall grass, out-of-control weeds, abandoned vehicles, trash or animal issues.

On a daily basis, he sees the effects of "people who just don't care as they walk through or drive through a neighborhood. After they're done with the snacks or food or beverages, they just throw them out into somebody's yard. We still have to contact the owner. It doesn't seem fair, but they are still the ones who have to pick it up," he said. "People get angry at us for that, but if they see [who littered] and can identify who did it, we'll cite them for that. We cannot issue a summons for something we do not witness."

According to Capt. Robert Bonney of the Jackson Police Department, "we actively pursue complaints. We've had several in the last month. It's definitely more residential than businesses — people selling their houses. I don't know if it's foreclosures or what, but we've had trouble with those, mainly out-of-towners."

Some, Bonney said, "just don't care what their lawns look like, and their neighbors are the ones that are complaining."

Scott City police chief Dave Leeman said warnings can be issued after a neighbor complains or if city officials take note of a particular property. "Most of the time, just a verbal warning gets them going," Leeman said.

After the seven-day warning, Scott City nuisance abatement officer Michael Culler writes a ticket and submits a work order to the city at the same time.

A lien is placed on the owner's property until the bill is paid. "Usually that happens one time to a person and they'll get tired of the ticket fine and just mow the dang grass," Leeman said.

Scott City issued 82 notices in April, mostly for abandoned vehicles, and 72 notices in May, mostly high weeds in yards.,

A ticket issued in Cape Girardeau, with court costs, runs about $75; the city's tab for mowing could reach $200 or more, depending the number of workers assigned and the types of equipment required to get the job done.

The nuisance control officers say no single neighborhood draws the most tickets, but sites that are vacant or being rented tend to suffer more neglect.

In fairness, Metzger said, sometimes an unruly yard is a symptom of a larger problem. On a recent call, he found the property owners were elderly and unable to do the work.

"Unfortunately, I have had to issue tickets to people who are in their 80s. They don't have any real means, but it's got to get cut. They've got to be responsible, or sell it or find somebody. It's not up to the city or police to find somebody for people," he said.

At the opposite end of the scale, he said, are the blatantly reluctant property owners who drag their feet or are impossible to locate.

Then there are the odd cases that require as much diplomacy as an officer can muster. Metzger recalls negotiating with a property owner whose college-aged female tenants decided to make a rock garden. The women used white landscaping stones and bright flowers. But they shaped the rock garden to look like a penis. Offended neighbors complained to police, but Metzger couldn't issue a ticket.

"Art is in the eye of the beholder," Metzger said. "But I talked to the property owner, the women who lived in the house, and they eventually agreed to take it out."

Metzger will review nuisance abatement issues during a special Cape Girardeau City Council study session at 5 p.m. Monday at city hall.

pmcnichol@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 127

Have a comment?

Log on to semissourian.com/today,