WAIST HIGH IN WEEDS: PROPERTY OWNERS TOLD TO CUT THE GRASS OR PAY UP

Clifford Bollinger returned home from a relaxing vacation to discover he has work to be done. Bollinger has until Monday to clear away the 4-foot-tall weeds on his property at 207 S. Spanish St. or else face a fine from the city.

Bollinger, who recently bought the property, said he has every intention of cleaning it up, and is irritated that the city has given him such a short time to do so.

"This property has been like this for five years," he said. "And I buy it, and just that quick, they're on my case."

City officials are cracking down on waist-high weeds that attract mosquitoes, snakes and other rodents by posting violators' addresses online.

"When you look at the overall picture, all of it is serious," said Charles Stucker, a code inspector. Weeds can affect the property values of homes nearby "and you have property next to you affecting the health and sanitation of the neighborhood."

Anyone can make a complaint about the weeds and can remain anonymous. No signature is required to file any of the forms; however, the online form allows a person to receive e-mail updates about the nuisance abatement process and is forwarded directly to the inspections department.

Bollinger said he doesn't understand why the city doesn't do something about other eyesores adjoining his property.

"Look at this mess," he said, gesturing to the overgrown weeds in the property next to his. "There's all kinds of stuff worse."

During the summertime, weed complaints rise in Cape Girardeau. The city notifies offending property owners and requires them to cut the grass within five days -- or else pay a fine and the city cuts it.

Although the city knows the names of the property owners in violation, that information isn't listed on the Web site. "You could make the argument that by putting their name you are shaming them" and that would motivate the owner to cut the grass, said Walter Denton, assistant city manager.

But the city chose only to use the addresses. "It's public information, but at the same time, do you want people to know exactly where you live?" he asked.

So far the city has received one complaint about the address listing, Denton said, because the names remain on the Web site even after the grass has been cut.

People who call about the weeds on a property can use the Web site to mark the progress and see if a site has already been cited. "It takes longer than you think to get through the process," Denton said.

The city assesses weed complaints within 24 hours and then sends a letter to the property owner if it is violation of city ordinance. In situations where the property owners don't cut the grasses, public works employees mow the yard after seven days.

Property owners are then assessed a bill from the city. If the property is vacant, that bill is added to tax assessments in case the land is ever sold for back taxes owed.

In the past the process for filing complaints and cutting the weeds took up to a month. The city revamped its nuisance abatement ordinance in 1997 to speed up the lengthy process.

Many times the property owners don't even realize how high the grass has grown because they live out of town and just hire someone to care for the yards, Stucker said.

The number of high weeds cases aren't worse this year than in others, but Stucker expects an increase after Thursday's rains and the week's warm weather.

"There will be a growth spurt," he said. "In a week or so we'll get a spat of larger-than-normal weeds."

Southeast Missourian intern Beth Lewis contributed to this report.

How to report high weeds The city offers several methods for reporting properties with tall weeds.

Online: www.showme.net/capecity. Click on the link to report weeds violations. The form also allows you to receive e-mail updates about the process.

Telephone: Call 332-4907 to make a report. Messages can be left after hours.

In person: File complaints at the Inspections Services Division at city hall, 401 Independence.