Marion Public Health Reminding City Residents to Mow Their Lawns

May. 16, 2012 - By Josh Berridge - 0 Comments

Marion Public Health has made necessary modifications to the Grass & Weed Program to insure funding remains available through the 2012 summer season. Marion Public Health will continue to work with the City in requiring property owners/residents to maintain their property in accordance to City code.

Marion Public Health will accept complaints filed either by completing a Grass & Weeds Complaint form available in the health department or by mailing a signed complaint letter to the health department located at 233 W. Center Street, Marion. The Marion Public Health Grass & Weeds Complaint form can also be found on our website at www.marionpublichealth.org.

The Codified Ordinances of the City of Marion, Chapter 678 prohibits grass or weed growth in excess of 12 inches. Yards determined by the health department to have grass or weed growth in excess of 12 inches will have an order notice conspicuously posted on the property and a copy of the notice will be sent certified mail to the property owner.

The property owner will have 5 days to bring the property into compliance with the grass and weed ordinance. In the event the property owner does not comply with that order, the owner will be referred to the prosecutor or law director for prosecution. The owner will be responsible for court costs and for restitution of any costs involved in mowing the property.

Every attempt is made to locate the owner of a vacant property. If the owner cannot be located, per Ohio Revised Code, Section 731.51, a notice must be placed in the newspaper and then the Health Department can have the property mowed and the costs involved placed on the tax duplicate as an assessment.

Any owner of a foreclosed property is still responsible for the property until the deed is no longer in their name. This could take 2 years or more. It is the property owner's responsibility to follow up with the Bank until their name is removed from the deed.

The legal process involved to provide proper notification and to allow for "due notice" to the property owner can take several weeks to several months.