Apr 13, 2015 3 min read

WAYNESBURG – Property owners in Franklin Township could now face steeper fines for allowing their grass to grow too high.

The township’s supervisors approved an amendment Monday afternoon to make the township’s existing grass maintenance ordinance part of its property maintenance code.

The township has had a separate grass maintenance ordinance for many years that requires property owners to cut their grass, setting the maximum height at six inches. The six-inch requirement will not change, but the regulation will now be part of the property maintenance code, township Code Enforcement Officer Steve Coss said.

The only change will be the fine. The fine under the grass maintenance ordinance is $25 a citation. Under the property maintenance code, the fine for failing to cut the grass can go as high as $1,000 with repeated violations, Coss said.

The fine is determined by the district magistrate judge.

Coss said he issues at least 100 citations a year under the grass maintenance ordinance. A few property owners have received numerous citations, he said.

The regulation will be included under the property maintenance code, which also covers other conditions of the property, the house or other structures and ensures they are maintained in a safe and healthy manner, Coss said.

The supervisors also announced the township’s cleanup day will be Saturday, April 25. Residents can bring their unwanted household items to the township building between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m.

The township will not accept electronic items, such as computers or televisions, tires, paint, oil or other hazardous liquids.

Cara Smith of Elm Drive asked the supervisors to do something about people dumping at the township storage yard on Killdeer Lane. She said people have been at the site late at night.

The supervisors previously allowed residents to dump tree limbs and other lawn materials on the property and normally have a cable across the road.

The cable, however, has recently been removed to allow the builder of the Huntington Woods development to use the road to access its property.

Smith said some of the items dumped there include old pipe. Supervisor Reed Kiger said the supervisors will investigate the matter.

Hunter Cole, a scout working on an Eagle Scout badge, attended the meeting. Cole will be cutting brush and working to obtain trash cans for the two kayak ramps the township is installing on Ten Mile Creek, one at Crawford Park and the other at the park along Route 188.