Let me guess: Your neighbors’ weeds are waist-high and attracting bugs and critters and collecting trash.

You are not alone.

Complaints have been clogging the “Side Streets” hotline, and it’s even worse at Colorado Springs Code Enforcement. Calls to the city’s common-sense enforcers – I mean code enforcers – are pouring in like the rain that has fueled an explosion of tall grass and weeds in the area.

Tom Wasinger, code enforcement administrator, reports that code complaints are coming in at a rate of 120 a day, and the bulk are weed-related. (And you thought potholes were the burning issue.)

“This spring, we’re running about 130 cases above last year,” Wasinger said. “I get a notification on my phone every time someone files an online complaint. My phone dings every couple of minutes these days.”

A few big factors affect enforcement of the complaints.

One is a shrunken code enforcement staff.

Another is the lack of sunny, dry days for mowing.

Then there’s the need to give property owners time to get the weeds mowed.

Consider the staffing issue. Because Wasinger’s staff is depleted due to retirements and transfers, he said he often finds himself sitting in front of the TV at night, answering complaint emails. Even so, he can barely keep up.

“As soon as a complaint comes in about weeds, we send a letter to the property owners giving them 10 days to get them cut,” he said. “Then we send out a volunteer to see if the weeds have been cut.”

Typically, Wasinger said, the first letter achieves about 70 percent compliance. But the inspections take time and his agency is down to just two volunteers for the city’s entire 195 square miles.

“We’re getting to the apex,” he said. “We have 300-plus people sitting, waiting for a follow-up inspection.”

If a volunteer discovers the weeds were not cut after 10 days, a report is written and a sworn code enforcement officer is dispatched to inspect the property, triggering another 10-day period. Three recent retirements have thinned the ranks of Wasinger’s sworn officers, creating another hardship.

If, after the second 10-day period, the weeds haven’t been mowed, a city crew is ordered to the property to perform a very expensive lawn manicure. And, you guessed it, he’s even short a mowing crew.

“Weed abatement isn’t cheap,” Wasinger said. “It costs about $150 for a crew to mow an average lawn. Then there are inspection fees and surcharges for paperwork that add another $200 minimum to the cost.

“And we bill the property owner for those costs.”

The idea is to discourage lazy property owners from relying on the city to come out and mow.

“We don’t want to become their maintenance staff,” Wasinger said.

Despite the staffing and other issues, Wasinger invites people to file their complaints.

“The best way to report a problem is online at coloradosprings.gov and type ‘code enforcement’ in the search box,” he said. “It will immediately bring up our complaint form.”

Then fill out the form and hit “send.” Wasinger’s phone will ding and a letter will soon be on its way to the offending property owner.

“Keep bringing us the complaints,” he said. “Please understand we’re doing our best to keep up.”

Wasinger has one last message for property owners – a timely one in light of a forecast that calls for clearing skies and more summer-like weather this weekend: “On these sunny days, it’s a great time to get out and get the yard mowed.”

And that’s a great way from preventing your wallet from getting clipped.

The code enforcement complaint form is available at https://coloradosprings.gov/cat/government/general-information/ information/code-enforcement-complaint- form.

Yellow-flowered common tansy.

Bill Vogrin – Side Streets