Council amends ordinance to let building inspector issue weed/grass notices

South Russell Village Council voted to amend section 678.02 of the village ordinances so that written notices to property owners whose grass or weeds exceed the local height standard may be issued "by and through its designee" rather than requiring council to vote to send each notice.

The change was proposed by a council member who said the revision would allow the building inspector to issue notices promptly and avoid delay. The solicitor confirmed the motion's legal effect: the amendment delegates the notice service process to the building/zoning department rather than requiring a council roll-call vote each time the village needs to notify a property owner.

Council moved the ordinance as an emergency and voted to waive additional readings; the motion passed on recorded voice roll-call votes. The change was raised specifically in the context of ongoing disputes about overgrown grass near Gurney School and the Fox Run property; council indicated the amendment would enable the building inspector to move directly to enforcement notices where necessary.

The amendment does not change the underlying code standard (the ordinance still specifies the conditions that trigger notice and potential enforcement) but alters the process for issuing notices and is intended to speed enforcement response.

Council directed that the amendment be drafted to reference the "building inspector or building and zoning designee" so the village maintains operational flexibility if staff assignments change.