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Weirton to study property code after complaint

WEIRTON — Weirton Council may be studying one of its property code regulations after a city official said he felt as if he was being singled out with a code violation.

Ward 5 Councilman Doug Jackson, who stepped down from the council dais in order to speak as a citizen during Tuesday afternoon’s meeting, explained he had received a notice of violation because of the height of the hedges in front of his house.

Jackson noted several other properties on Marland Heights which he said had shrubs and trees taller than the 6 feet height of his hedges.

“Selective enforcement is what I feel is happening,” Jackson said, also presenting photographs to council which he said displayed vandalism and hate speech left at his house and rental properties.

Jackson said there is no sidewalk located in front of his property, where he resides with his partner and children, and the hedges are located there as a form of protection. He said his driveway is 22 feet wide and the hedges create no obstruction of traffic.

According to Code Official Matt Burskey, the city’s Inspections Department is primarily complaint driven when it comes to property issues, and received a call about Jackson’s property.

“We received a complaint on this residence,” Burskey said. “We did not receive a complaint on any other properties that I am aware of.”

Burskey cited Section 557 of the property code ordinances as the basis for the violation notice, which stipulates a height of no more than 4 feet for hedges.

“It pertains to grass and high hedges,” Burskey said.

Jackson reiterated the safety aspect of his hedges.

“I’ve had pop bottles, as recently as last Tuesday, thrown at my children,” Jackson said.

Mayor Harold Miller suggested law enforcement become involved in that aspect of the matter.

“The hate crime stuff is not something that will be tolerated in this community,” Miller said.

Jackson said the Weirton Police Department already has started an investigation.

Public Works Director Rod Rosnick, who previously served as chief code official, said the hedge regulation is only a few years old, and was put in place to emulate a similar regulation for fencing in front yards.

Ward 4 Councilman George Ash stated he may have sponsored the ordinance enacting the code, and recommended the city suspend issuing violations for that section of code until the matter is studied.

(Howell can be contacted at chowell@weirtondailytimes.com, and followed via Twitter @CHowellWDT)

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