?Whack Your Weeds Week? starting Saturday

Although a little later in the season this year, it?s time for the annual communitywide weed whacking

Mayor Ed Malloy, on behalf of the Fairfield Beautification Commission and local Code Enforcement Officer Scott Vaughan, is proclaiming Saturday through Sept. 8 as ?Whack Your Weeds Week.?

?A quick walk or drive around town and you can?t help but grasp the meaning of ?growing like a weed,?? said beautification commission member Suzan Kessel. ?The extreme heat this summer has stifled the growth of everything, except weeds. With dry brown grass areas, mowing has been unnecessary, but the need for weed whacking is now very apparent.?

Vaughan and the beautification commission are announcing the campaign to put attention on cleaning up the community.

?Everyone can make a difference in our own yards and businesses and assert pride in our community,? said Kessel. ?Pulling the weeds growing from cement cracks and edges of sidewalks doesn?t take long if you don?t let it get out of hand. Weed whackers do the job in heavier weeded areas.?

?Recent rains should help green up our grass, making things more attractive,? she continued. ?Getting rid of the weeds, deadheading and trimming plants are a chore, and the weather has not been conducive to working outside, but hopefully that is changing come September. It should be a little more enjoyable to be outside, get some exercise, and help keep Fairfield beautiful.?

Vaughan reminds residents of their responsibility regarding the cutting of weeds according to city ordinance 9.76.010 Weeds: ?All premises and exterior property shall be maintained free from weeds and plant growth in excess of 10 inches.?

In the event the owner does not cut or destroy, such weed the department of public works may cut them and assess the costs to the property owner.

In addition to the weeds, Vaughan said, ?People need to be reminded of ordinance 1034 that went into effect in January of 2008 about garage sale signs. Failure to comply could result in a $50 fine plus costs.?

The ordinance has several points, with the primary ones being that a maximum size of 4 square feet sign must be free standing and not placed on a utility pole, street light or street sign and put up one day before the sale and removed one day after. Plus, no attracting devices, such as balloons, can be attached to the sign, and the name, address and telephone number must be on the back. Permission must be requested to place a sign in/on someone else?s property, and signs may not be placed in the parking or right of way.

Vaughan stressed the city wants to make residents aware of the ordinances so they will be able to comply.

?If I take a [garage sale] sign to someone they usually say, probably correctly, that they didn?t know what the regulations are. We just want to make everyone aware,? he said.