I live in the city of Butler near Emily Brittain School. There is a vacant house on a piece of property adjacent to my home. I know there is a city ordinance regarding high grass. I called the city on May 1 and asked who I could talk to with regard to the high grass on the property. At that time the grass was ankle high. I was transferred to code enforcement. I was told to call 911 and state that my call was not an emergency and I would like to talk to a police officer. I did that.

I’ve called three times since then, and the grass is now over waist/chest high. The last time I called, an officer told me in these cases a letter is sent out to the property owner, Realtor or bank — basically to whomever oversees the property. The officer told me that usually when the property is vacant the person in charge of it will just pay the fine and not bother mowing the grass.

Why do they get away with simply paying the fine and not mowing the grass? The grass still needs to be mowed. It might cost them less money to mow the grass instead of paying the fine.

P.E. Schmid,

Butler