Prairie Township cleared trash and trimmed tall grass with township funds at 26 neglected properties in a year’s time. Now, officials turn to the owners to collect for costs incurred.
Between Aug. 1, 2007 and July 31, 2008, the township received 119 complaints of tall grass and 132 complaints of excess trash and debris.
Of those properties that received a week’s notice under the Ohio Revised Code to remove garbage, vegetation, and debris, 26 warranted township intervention—seven for trash and debris and 19 for tall grass.
The expense to the township to clean and control the blighted areas climbed to an estimated $18,300.
One of the nuisance cases involving trash build-up has already been reimbursed to the township for approximately $1,300.
The township will document all other expenses incurred and submit a report to the Franklin County Auditor. The amount spent will be returned to the township’s general fund in the form of other taxes from the property owners.
At the Aug. 27 meeting, Trustee Steve Kennedy said that the trustees’ stance on nuisance cases is to allow the property owners to correct the violation themselves before the township interferes.
According to Kennedy, that explains the low number of assessments when compared to the number of complaints filed.
OPWC funding
Prairie Township will apply for funding for two road improvement projects involving Gladys Road and South Grener Avenue.
The township will submit an application for funding to the Ohio Public Works Commission. The application will undergo evaluation from the State Capital Improvement Program (SCIP) and the Local Transportation Improvement Program (LTIP).
If approved, the grant would cover the $1.92 million cost of the Gladys Road project, while the South Grener Avenue project, totaling $5.03 million would find 80 percent of funds from the grant and 20 percent from a zero-interest loan.
Both projects met discussion at the Aug. 13 open house, hosted by the township.
Street cleaning
Street cleaning will take place on Sept. 8 from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., beginning on the east side of Prairie Township and ending on the west side.
Drivers are encouraged not to park on the street during the scheduled cleaning.
