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Dispute over tall grass divides neighbors |
By Nicole
Clark, Newberg Graphic intern
E-mail Nicole at
thegraphic@eaglenewspapers.com
|
Springbrook Estates, a mobile
home park at the edge of town on Springbrook Road, may be overlooked
by some. But the residents and managers are requesting that the city
listen to them.
The community of about 125 homes lies adjacent to a large field
owned by Dr. Daniel Casey, a psychiatry professor at Oregon Health
and Sciences University. According to Springbrook Estates’ manager,
the grass in the field is over six feet tall and dries out quickly
in the summer.
This poses a high fire risk for residents along the back of the
property, they argue, as well as other homes in the community to
which the fire could spread.
One of the managers, who requested anonymity, said the danger for
fire will increase with warm summer weather and the coming Fourth of
July holiday.
“We have youngsters here who don’t have very much common sense when
it comes to fireworks,” he said. “They will probably go down into
the field, into an area where they can’t be observed by adults.”
Last summer, three fires broke out in the field, one next to the
fence separating the two properties, Newberg Fire Chief Al Blodgett
said.
“They could have been dangerous,” he said. Although the fire
department could not confirm that the fires were started by
fireworks, “grass fires don’t start by themselves,” Blodgett said.
Because the property lies outside of city limits, however, Blodgett
said that Casey is not violating Newberg fire code by not cutting
the grass in his field.
“Yamhill County does not have any restrictions for tall grass since
so much of the county is rural,” Blodgett said. “Because it’s
outside city limits, we have no jurisdiction on obnoxious tall grass
and weeds.”
Because Casey is not breaking any city laws, “there’s nothing we
can do about it except complain,” the manager said. But
communication has not been easy.
“Last year there were requests to mow the field, to which the owner
never paid any attention,” he said.
Blodgett agreed that talking to the owner is the only way to get
the field mowed.
“I’m trying to make contact with the property owner, get him to cut
a protection slough, which would be about 30 feet wide,” he said.
“But I have not had any success.”
Attempts to contact Casey for comment were unsuccessful.
Although previous attempts to communicate with Casey have been
unsuccessful, the residents of Springbrook Estates plan to continue
trying. Recently, they sent a letter and a petition, signed by 45
residents, to the fire department, city government and this
newspaper.
In the end, the manager said residents just want Casey to
cooperate.
“We’re not threatening,” he said. “We just want the field mowed and
we’re being stonewalled. We’re not doing this with animosity. It’s
just a matter of the safety of the community.” |
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From June 27, 2007,
Newberg Graphic
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