As grass grows, so do complaints to city

‘Tis the season: Growing and uncut grass in Kalispell neighborhoods has been prompting the usual complaints to city officials.

Council member Phil Guiffrida III raised the issue at last week’s council meeting, saying he has gotten some calls from concerned property owners.

“This time of year it always comes up,” City Attorney Charlie Harball said.

Municipal code related to fire prevention says that grass and weeds on private property must be kept under eight inches tall starting July 1.

“Lawns are growing right now and that’s really the nature of spring, but we can’t do anything until after July 1,” said Planning Director Tom Jentz.

“If we get a complaint we will write a letter to the property owner saying we’ve got a complaint and after July 1 you can be cited. So we do give them a little friendly, up-front reminder that it’s probably time to mow.”

Several years ago, a glut of foreclosed homes was driving many uncut grass and weed complaints. With foreclosure activity down, that’s not such a problem, Jentz said.

“Usually there’s a management company and lawn care service lined up to take care of those things, but there is a lag,” Jentz said. “Two or three years ago there was a significant lag. Now we don’t see that long lag time.”

Kalispell also has a junk vehicle ordinance. Dismantled and inoperable vehicles and vehicle parts can’t sit out in public view.

Enforcement of both city ordinances is generally complaint-driven.

“We wait until we get a complaint from someone, a neighbor who is offended, and then we’ll go out and try to work that out,” Harball said. “In some neighborhoods people don’t care, so no one is complaining.”

Last year, the city handled 64 uncut grass and junk vehicle complaints, Jentz said. Less than a dozen complaints have come in so far this spring.

Reporter Tom Lotshaw may be reached at 758-4483 or by email at tlotshaw@dailyinterlake.com.