CITY REMINDS HOMEOWNERS TO
TRIM BRANCHES AND AVOID OBSTRUCTING TRAFFIC SIGNS
As homeowners continue to work in their lawns and gardens, City officials are reminding them to trim or remove tree branches or bushes from private property and boulevard areas to avoid creating safety hazards by obstructing traffic signs at intersections and other areas in the city.
Homeowners and property owners can be cited for failure to remove the obstructions. Property owners can be notified of violations by the City’s code enforcement division. If the obstruction is not removed, city crews can trim back the foliage or hire contractors to have the tree or bush removed. Cost for the tree and foliage trimming or removal along with an administrative fee can be assessed to the homeowner/property owner.
“It’s a safety issue,” said City Engineer Roger Hall. “In some instances, a driver approaches an intersection and they cannot see the stop sign, yield sign, school zone sign or other important traffic signs due to overhanging tree limbs laden with leaves, or bushes with overgrowth obstructing the view of the sign. We want to remind homeowners it’s their responsibility to keep trees and bushes trimmed so there is no obstruction to signage for oncoming traffic.”
The City’s Code Enforcement Division investigates complaints filed by citizens and will notify homeowners to immediately remove the obstruction. If the hazard is not immediately removed, code enforcement will contact the City’s Public Works Division or a private contractor for further action in getting the obstruction trimmed or removed. Property and home owners are responsible for the landscaping within the boulevard (the area between the sidewalk and the street pavement/curb and gutter). If landscaping must be trimmed within this area, the property/home owner would be charged the fee for abatement.
For more information, contact the City’s Code Enforcement Division at 605-355-3465.
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