Summer is here and the grass is growing! One of the important aspects of the Code Enforcement Office is to keep the City of Madisonville looking good, and in the summer working with the citizens to keep the grass and weeds cut is a top priority.
We are fortunate to have many conscientious residents who keep their lawns mowed neatly; however some areas in the City are not always in compliance. The ordinance states that ....."the existence of noxious weeds and rank vegetation in excess of a height of 12 inches constitutes a nuisance." When an area is overgrown, the Code Enforcement Officer will attempt to contact the owner and get them to mow. If that does not work, a certified letter is sent. Finally, if that does not work, the area is mowed and the City attaches a lien to the property.
Another priority in the Office of Code Enforcement is the abatement of dilapidated buildings. Since January 1, 2007, the City of Madisonville has demolished 4 buildings and with the cooperation of citizens an additional 17 buildings and mobile homes. If the City demolishes a structure, a lien is applied to the property and the property is sold at the court house door to recoup the City's expenses.
Another ongoing project is the abatement of abandoned vehicles. Since January 1, 2007, the City has towed 1 vehicle and with the cooperation of citizens an additional 22 vehicles have been removed. The ordinance states that..."the property owner where the vehicle is located and/or owner of the abandoned or inoperative motor vehicle shall have 30 days from the date of written notice to remove the vehicle. After such notice,...the Code Enforcement Officer...shall enter upon the property...in order to remove...any abandoned or inoperative vehicle."
The citizens of Madisonville have been extremely cooperative with the City of Madisonville and the Code Enforcement Officer to help clean up Madisonville. The Office of Code Enforcement is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is located at City Hall, 35 E. Center Street. For questions or concerns, please contact Sue Jones, Code Enforcement Officer via e-mail at sjones@madisonvillegov.com or call 270-824-2179.
