Overgrown Yards Prompt Shrewsburian Complaints—Again

Spring has come again, and with it, the smell of fresh cut grass -- or the lack thereof. 

Eight months after previously addressing the Shrewsbury Board of Aldermen about a poorly maintained residence, a pair of citizens voiced the same complaint at a meeting Tuesday night.

Barb Dressler and Patrice Roussa concerning the frequently overgrown yard of a house at 7233 Nottingham Ave. as well issues with litter accumulation in other areas of the city. In response Mayor Felicity Buckley promised that one of the goals of her tenure has been to crack down on code violators.

On Tuesday Buckley said their repeated complaints had not fallen on deaf ears and cited a list of the city’s efforts. Buckley also pointed to the example of a resident who had taken it upon herself to find a group to adopt a stretch of road because, according to the resident, “that is what it's going to take.”

“I think it's important to note that we have responded,” she said. “We've called the county on your behalf, we've called Metrolink on your behalf and I’ve met with the railroad on some citizen's behalf who had a problem with trash in that area.”

Buckley said herself and other members of the board had taken tours of the city, adding that “there aren’t piles of trash around.” She also mentioned numerous efforts to spruce up the city, including the annual “Make a Difference Day” held in the fall and a request to the street department to step up their cleaning efforts.

A persistent issue

However Roussa said that her efforts to bring attention to the issue had become a spring tradition. In addition to the residence on Nottingham, Roussa and Dressler also cited a chronic buildup of trash on a property in Shrewsbury owned by Ameren UE.

“I’ve voice my concern about 7233 Nottingham since 2007, and every summer since that year I have called or emailed about the trash and tall grass on that property to get something done,” she said. “I’ve asked why the ordinances aren’t enforced. I’ve asked why Ameren UE’s property is not keep litter free."

A third citizen, , who recently for Board of Alderman in Ward 2, also addressed the board about a possible violation of the city’s property ordinances due to overgrown weeds on one of the vacant lots in the Kenrick Plaza shopping center.

In the case of the Kenrick property or the house on Nottingham, the owners often only take action after receiving official notice that they are in violation but before a fine can be issued. Bub suggested that the city amend its codes to allow for punishment for those who receive multiple notices.

Buckley said the city has been trying to work with those in attendance at the meeting to get something done, but acknowledged that there are continuous problems with certain properties.

“What they will do is meet the code, and then as soon they are in violation, they will cut [the grass], but they don’t necessarily keep it nice,” Buckley said.