Council member calls weed control a joke

Coulee Dam doesn't do enough to get property owners to control weeds, and neither does Okanogan County.

That's the assessment of Councilmember Keith St Jeor, who complained about no enforcement despite a recent increase in his property taxes, which he said supposedly includes payment for weed control.

"That place across the street from me ... has been treated by the town like a joke" for the 21 years he's lived in his home," St. Jeor said at the June 28 council meeting.

Thinking he paid property taxes, partially specifically for that purpose, St. Jeor said he took the issue up with officials at the county courthouse, but they told him that since the property is within the city limits it's a city problem.

Not only that, but the weeds are also actually on city property, a planting strip next to the street that is supposed to be maintained by the adjacent landowner.

St. Jeor said the city should take responsibility for it, even if it must seek reimbursement from a property owner.

"The town ... it is their property, they need to clean it up," St. Jeor said.

Councilmember Dale Rey asked why city residents pay for county weed control if the county won't control weeds within the city.

"Every time we call them, they say they're not going to come down to do anything with noxious weeds in this town," said Public Works Superintendent Mike Steffens.

City Clerk Stefani Bowden said the town's own codes don't have enough backbone to effectively tackle the problem, requiring only a warning letter and allowing for subsequent cleanup with no enforcement escalation.

Using property liens was discussed as a possible solution.

St. Jeor said enforcement should begin anyway, no matter what remedies might come in the future.

"We're spinning our wheels," he said. "Those places in town that are city property that have weeds need to be sprayed regardless of how somebody is supposed to take care of it."

Clerk Bowden said the city attorney should be consulted on the issue before the council adopts any new approach that could affect city liability, "but our codes on that definitely need to be updated."