(Atlantic, Iowa) – Atlantic Mayor Grace Garrett, Wednesday, informed the public that the City’s Code Enforcement personnel are out and about, checking for property violations (such as overgrown grass, trash accumulation, snow removal, etc.). “So just be aware, if you have a business or a home, please comply with the ordinances that are on the books,” she said, because they are out in force, and they are working on Code Enforcement, and we will be enforcing codes.”

The Mayor said “Last year we increased the fees because we were using City equipment [and] City personnel, to abate properties, and that takes a lot of time and money and wear of our equipment, as a city. So the rates were increased.” She encourages everyone, from land-lords or a property owner or business owner, “to make sure that you’re complying and keeping up your properties, or we will be coming in to abate it, and you will be receiving a bill in the mail.”

City Clerk Barb Barrick said “Once you get the bill, if you don’t pay it within 30 days, it will be assessed to your taxes.” The Mayor said it is less expensive to do the work yourself, than to have the City clean-up your property.