Weeds Be Gone
The Hollister Post Office on Maple Street was among the 361 lots
within city limits needing weed abatement this year to prepare for
the dry season and prevent fire.
Weeds Be Gone
The Hollister Post Office on Maple Street was among the 361 lots within city limits needing weed abatement this year to prepare for the dry season and prevent fire.
The post office, San Benito High School and Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital were some of the high-profile public buildings on the list, compiled annually in January before the springtime abatement.
The city informs each of the property owners in March – and in an official notice in April – telling them they need to clear the noxious weeds or else the city would pay to have the work done before billing each of those residents as a lien on their property.
Local fire officials report that many property owners receive notices about weed abatement year after year, with some preferring to let the city contractor take care of the problem. The owners then pay the bill after they receive it from the city.
This year, city officials estimated more than 60 percent of the notified property owners took care of the weeds themselves, while the Hollister-hired contractor in recent weeks finished the rest of the properties.
Fire crews say the annual process allows them to take a proactive approach with fire suppression, particularly since many fires in overgrown lots have the potential to jump to nearby homes or properties.
The city also prefers to address possible fire hazards in the early spring, before weeds have a chance to get overgrown and dry. Such properties are also commonly used as a dump site for discarded tires, appliances and other trash, and can be a breeding ground for rodents.
