Spring rain brings nuisance weeds

Columbia Falls police chief Dave Perry reminds residents that the city’s weed ordinance’s definition of “nuisance weeds” includes all vegetation other than trees or shrubs over eight inches high.

With all the rain in spring, a lot of lawns will see tall grass that will need to be mowed, he said. Tall grass and weeds create a fire hazard after they dry out and become friable and readily combustible, he said.

Already, the city has sent about 150 letters to addresses where an apparent weed ordinance violation is occurring, he said. If nuisance weeds are not dealt with by the deadline stated in the letters, city crews could deal with the weeds and a bill could be sent to the property owners to handle the city’s cost.