By now we have all heard about councilor Stehly’s ‘Lawn Gate’;
Among them was Councilor Theresa Stehly, who said Tuesday she got word someone had complained about her yard, alleging it was unkempt and exceeding the maximum height requirement.
If it’s determined the complaint is valid, the city sends a letter telling the property owner to mow. If the violation isn’t corrected, they get a $100 fine and have to reimburse the city for hiring someone to mow.
What the city doesn’t tell you is even if you mow your lawn before a fine can by issued, you are now blacklisted. In other words if someone complains about your yard, and you mow it before you are fined, the city puts you on a ‘list’ anyway. The next time someone complains, the city issues NO warning and just mows it and fines you, and considers that first warning a warning throughout the season.
Seems a bit harsh.
What is ironic about this is that the city says they don’t have the man power to trim their own trees in the boulevard, but they have plenty of ‘manpower’ when it comes to fining you. Why does the city treat it’s taxpayers this way? Hopefully the next mayor will bring customer service back to the city.
A citation is disguised torture. A constitutional right is to be faced by your accuser. The city will not identify the complainant because there is none. The process is meant as punishment if you’re a non conforming councilor or someone who speaks up (Public Comment, Letter to the Editor). What they fail to realize is those they harass go out of their way to find a polling place. It’ll be a good day in 11 months when we keep the mayor out of higher office and eliminate 4 criminal councilors.
has anyone turned in the city for not mowing at sherman park, north of the country club on kiwanis?
You have a strange way of getting attention Theresa. Starting to remind me of our presidents constant need for the spotlight.
What needs to get attention is the problematic lack of due process for citizens when dealing with code enforcement.. This “one letter” policy encourages an environment of vindictive pitting of neighbor against neighbor.
I have spoken with fellow Council members who were not aware of this “one letter” policy. It needs to be changed.
Also, as I drive around Sioux Falls, I am seeing many yards growing higher than 8 inches. These people are not renegade offenders…and they don’t deserve to have their name permanently put on a looming $100 fine list. We can do better for our citizens.
And let me also say that I am very concered about the use of fees and fines being used to generate income for the City. Last year at the budget address, the mayor encouraged the council to take advantage of any opportunity we could find to impose more fees on the citizens. From my conversations with the public, that philosophy does NOT resonate well.
People want the City to be more responsible with existing revenue sources: property taxes, sales tax and water/sewer charges..I want to strive for MORE citizen services using the resources we already have more efficiently.
I have a feeling Stehly’s citation assault came from the mayor, the council, and Goldhammer herself. What’s surprising is how the ‘Mean Girls’ on the council joined with the ‘Good Old Boys’. I feel we can’t defend ourselves from city dictatorship (Strong Mayor Charter). Government that uses public money for revenge is not government. I’m hoping the next mayor will abandon the present charter and restore democracy. Meanwhile, how about an Emancipation Proclamation petition.
There has been an advertising campaign for Huether Match Point. Is public money being used for private commercial marketing?
Huether can jump over the net but he never crawled under concertina wire beneath heavy machine gun fire.
I hope the council asks the park dept. why many of their properties have grass longer than the city ordinance allows. Are they not held to the same standard?
Why doesn’t a councilperson just cut their grass? Am I missing something here?
I live adjacent to a property that is poorly maintained by the residents who are non owners. Fines have been levied several times due to their lack of responsibility. I will continue to call the city when the grass gets too tall or the garbage accumulates. I have contacted the owners in the past and they don’t give a damn.
For the record, I did cut the lawn..IMMEDIATELY!!! I didn’t realize it was over the limit .I discovered in the experience that the notification process could become “heavy handed” for the citizens.(I’m not talking about the renegade property owners who are perpetual abusers).
After these rainy days alot of properties had 9-10 inches of height. Many city properties are in violation as well. I believe it is worth a discussion about the notification policy and due process for the citizens.
One more yard/gardening comment..come to the St Therese plant sale on Sunday June 4th from 8:30-1:00..(or till gone).901 North Tahoe Trail. These are all suitable plants for boulevard gardens!!!