Number of nuisance properties increases

STAFF REPORT

AUSTINTOWN — The number of nuisance properties in Austintown has tripled in the past five years, primarily because of the number of home foreclosures that have occurred in recent years, township Trustee Lisa Oles said at a trustees meeting Monday.

In recent months, trustees have approved dozens of addresses that need to be notified that their properties have become a nuisance because of high grass or other unsightly conditions.

Oles and township Administrator Mike Dockry estimate the number of nuisance properties so far this year has reached close to 100.

Oles said having so many nuisance properties means that the township roads and parks departments are having to cut grass on many nuisance properties, which takes time away from road repairs, street sweeping and other jobs the workers would normally do.

Township workers cutting grass on a nuisance property results in a tax lien being filed on the property.