BLAME IT ON THE RAIN. Blame it on indifference. Blame it on a bad back or a bum knee.

Whatever the cause, the city of Canadian has encountered a bumper crop of weed violations in recent weeks, and faces the unhappy prospect of incurring a great deal of expense to formally notify property owners of the unsightly code violation that is plain as day right outside their own windows.

When the city of Canadian incurs unnecessary expenses for things like weed abatement notices and certified letters—not to mention salaries for employees who must identify the violations, then identify the property owners, then write the letters and deliver them to the post office and have them certified—then the city, and ultimately, the city taxpayers, have to find a way to pay for them.

If there is an inordinate amount of rain, or indifference, or bad backs or bum knees, that leads to a bumper crop of weed violations, those expenses skyrocket, and so do tax rates and tax bills to property owners—even the ones who took the time and made the effort to cut down the weeds in their alleys and along their sidewalks.

So why don’t we just skip the certified letters and the trip to the post office and get straight to the heart of the matter.

Here is the city ordinance those property owners are violating:

Canadian City Code

Article 6.02.001 WEEDS, GRASS, RUBBISH

The City Code states that weeds and grass shall not be allowed to grow to a height greater than twelve (12) inches and that the property must be kept free of loose trash and debris in the following places: (1) upon such property; (2) along adjacent sidewalk or street(s); (3) to the centerline of an adjacent alley or easement.

Property owners will have ten (10) days to comply with City Code after receiving a notice of violation. After the ten (10) day period expires, the City of Canadian may cause the property to be abated of the violation.

If the property has not been mowed and/or cleaned with ten (10) days of the date shown above, the City of Canadian will cause the violation to be abated. All cost for the abatement will be charged to the owner, lessee, occupant or any person having supervision or control of the property listed above.

If you are in violation of this ordinance on or before the first anniversary of this notice, the city may abate the violation at your expense and assess the expense against the property without further notice.

Those expensive (and unpleasant) abatement notices have not yet been sent by registered mail with return receipt requested, at considerable cost to the city, and to the city taxpayers. But they will be, if the guilty property owners don’t act now.

What do they need to do? Well, as a property owner and a proud citizen of the beautiful city of Canadian, you are responsible for the uncut grass and weeds and rubbish on your property—even those in the alley behind your home or business that you avoid noticing.

First. Simply walk out your front door or backdoor and out to your sidewalk or into your alley and observe the unsafe and unsightly weeds and grass and trash that have populated there, and that are in clear violation of City Code Article 6.02.001 (see above).

Second. Remove the trash and haul it to the dumpster.

Third. Fire up the mower or the weed eater and cut the by-now hipdeep growth down. Yes, it may be a little harder now than it would have been a month ago, because some of those weeds have developed giant stalks that will cling stubbornly to life, even when assaulted by a weed eater or mower. Try harder. Or ask your teenage son or daughter to lend a hand. Or hire a professional.

Fourth. When completed, collect what is now harmless organic waste in a large bag or trash can; place it in your vehicle (or borrow a friend’s pickup truck or trailer); and haul it to the free—that’s right, FREE, because your property tax dollars already paid for it—municipal tree pile located on the north edge of town just beyond the county recreation complex (watch for signs); and unload it in the pile clearly intended for such organic matter.

Fifth. Drive to the Dairy Queen and reward yourself with a Reese’s Cup Blizzard, because you’ve earned it, and because the Dairy Queen can always use the business.

What have you accomplished?

You’ve kept City Code Enforcement Officer Tommy Wyatt from getting another phone call from a neighbor who wants the city to do something about neighbor’s unsafe and unsightly alley or sidewalk.

You’ve saved a few tax dollars, in the process—probably more than enough to pay for that Blizzard you just ate.

You’ve set a fine example for those teenagers who helped you.

And you’ve made Canadian, Texas, a kinder, gentler, more beautiful place for every one of us.

High five. Low five. Pat on the back. Next month, when you remember all the satisfaction you felt and how delicious that Blizzard was, you can do it all over again, and pray for an early snow. Problem solved. Cost to taxpayers: $0. Win and win.

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY CITY CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER TOMMY WYATT