7/24/14 - A new ordinance is in the works to help Hartland Township better define and enforce standards related to blight and nuisances. The township currently has such an ordinance, but Manager James Wickman says it leaves something to be desired when it comes to actually enforcing common complaints and even identifying exactly when a particular case is in violation. A new ordinance has been in the works for some time, and on Tuesday the issue was brought to the township board for final approval. However, since not all board members were present, the matter was tabled until the boardâs next meeting. Wickman says the most common blight problems are uncut lawns, derelict vehicles, and attractive nuisances such as broken windows that could cause children to get into mischief. He says the current blight ordinance provides limited enforcement options, usually just ticketing people who are in violation, but that the township would prefer to correct the violation instead of simply punishing the resident. The new ordinance would provide better options, for instance, mowing a lawn that has been neglected and then billing the owner, which would correct the violation and cost less than a ticket. (TD)
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