(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic City Council, Wednesday, heard a request from the City’s Code Enforcement Officer, Kris Erickson, who suggested proposed changes to the City’s Code of Ordinances, with regard to Nuisance Abatement fees and fines. She said it’s been about six-years since the City has raised its prices for nuisance abatement’s, and they are seeing more abatement’s taking place. The last time they raised it, she said, they had less abatement’s to do, because people didn’t want those bills.

The City charges for services anytime a property owner fails to clean-up their property when requested to do so, fails to mow or clear their sidewalk, and other infractions of the Code.

Erickson spoke with Mayor Grace Garrett, and both agreed it is time to increase the fees because of the wear and tear on both the equipment and City employees who take care of the nuisance.

She says the fees are collected through an invoice from the City Clerk. The property owner has 30 days to set-up a payment plan or pay the bill. If they don’t it gets assessed to the property owner’s taxes and it is spread out over 10-years if the amount is over $500. The City Council was fully supportive of the proposed changes, which will be presented next to the Community Protection Committee for a more detailed review and recommendation. Councilman Dana Halder asked about changing the Mowing Ordinance. Currently, the Ordinance says grass must not be allowed to grow to 12-inches tall before it is declared a nuisance. That’s the highest allowed in the State. Halder suggested it be lowered to nine-inches. For comparison, Pella’s limit is six-inches, and their ordinance is highly enforced.

Erickson says she wouldn’t go lower than nine-inches, because they don’t have the employees to be constantly out mowing grass on problem properties.

On a separate note, Erickson showed to the Council some signs they would like to sell at the Atlantic Animal Shelter about the City’s “pooper scooper” law, when it comes to dog droppings on City sidewalks and grassy areas frequented by the public. Erickson said they would be sold not only as a fundraiser for the Shelter, and as a reminder for persons who don’t pick up and dispose of the droppings as required under the Code of Ordinances.

Atlantic Code Enforcement Office Kris Erickson w/one of the fundraising/ordinance reminder signs.

The Council gave its full blessing to move forward with the sale of the signs.