Cleaning Up The Town

Since taking over as Glasgow’s code compliance officer position at the end of last year, Rod Dees has had one goal in mind: cleaning up the town. With the increase of abandoned buildings and junk vehicles in public view, in addition to weedy lots now that we are in peak summer season, Dees has been busy trying to achieve that goal.

Though there are city ordinances for abandoned/public nuisance building structures and properties as well as city codes for nuisance weeds and abandoned/discarded vehicles, it does take time for property owners to clean up and for those items to be taken care of. “I am trying to work with people to help get the town cleaned up,” Dees told the Courier. “It does take time to process everything.”

The latest city ordinance (No. 977) regarding abandoned and/or public nuisance buildings, structures and properties was passed in September of 2021 by the City Council. Initial letters were sent to property owners during the winter on the options available to them as well as the penalties. Official letters were sent at the end of April, outlining the property owner has to secure permits and physically commence, within 50 calendar days from the date of service and complete the necessary rehabilitation, repair or cleanup workin within 120 calendar days. If demolition will occur, the building must be vacated and demolition must start within 90 calendar days and the demolition must be completed within 180 calendar days. “When tearing down, residential or commercial permits will be needed which range in cost. At the end of the 180 days, the city will assess fees if it’s not torn down,” explained Dees.

Another thing the city and Dees are working on is weedy lots as well as lots with abandoned vehicles and junk lots. Summer yards can be hard to attain, however city code states “nuisance weeds means all weeds, grass, wild vegetation and other uncared for vegetation growing to a height of eight inches on the property located within the boundaries of the city and any other untended vegetation creating a potential fire hazard, visual or physical obstruction for pedestrians or vehicles, potential for the spread of said vegetation or unsightly conditions.” The abandoned vehicle code states “no person shall abandon any vehicle within the city and no person shall leave any vehicle at any place within the city for such term. "Any person possessing one or more junk vehicles, regardless of ownership, shall completely shield the vehicle from public view.”

Dees explained those with nuisance weeds lots, he tries to contact directly first to develop a plan to clean up. If necessary, then a written notice of violation is sent to the owners of the property stating if the property is not taken care of within seven days the city will remove the weeds and charge the owner with the cost of removal. The ordinance states “That owner will receive only one violation notice per year and that the city will remove or cut the weeds again as needed without any additional notice to the owner. The first violation and removal will be at $250 for the city providing cutting/removal of the weeds, with the second violation and removal being $500. The third violation will be $750 for the city to provide cutting/removal of weeds. On continued violations, the penalty will continue to stack or increase by $250 per removal by the city, all of which will be charged to the owner of the subject property by mailing a bill or statement to the owner at the owner’s last known address.”

Dees drives with Mayor Karst and Chief of Police Robert Weber on a weekly basis to not only check on lots that have been notified but also to check on things that were reported to him as well as just keep an eye out on any potential clean-up efforts. “We are really trying to work with the people to help get the town cleaned up."

As the weather warms up, Dees also wants to remind the public if any construction is being done on the property, such as putting up a fence or new construction or putting up a deck, a permit is needed before work is started. To obtain a permit, you can come into the Public Works office located inside of the Civic Center to get the necessary information and then the permit is sent to Interstate Engineering until the new Public Works Director starts later this month. A property owner also has to be aware there are different zone areas and there are different guidelines based upon a residential and commercial as well as among the zone areas. Information on fencing permits, building permits and zoning for building codes can be located on the City website: http://www.cityofglasgowmt.com/services1.

If you have any concerns regarding abandoned homes and/or weedy/junk lots, Dees welcomes you to contact him at 406-228-2476, extension 8. The full city ordinance on abandoned houses / public nuisance buildings, structures and properties as well as the various city ordinances can be found on the City of Glasgow website http://www.cityofglasgowmt.com/.