From David Park Acting Director Neighborhood and Community Services

This is to provide an update on our effort to mow weeds on vacant, privately-owned property this summer.

On May 1, 2009, Neighborhood and Community Services assumed responsibility for mowing weeds on vacant, privately-owned property when the property owners fail to do so. Weed mowing contracts this year also included for the first time removal of accumulations of trash that invariably collect on these properties.

I publicly announced a goal of having all of these lots mowed for the first time by the end of June. Unfortunately, we were not able to achieve the goal. It is July and there are many vacant, privately-owned lots that have not yet been mowed.

Factors such as above average rainfall and contractors unable to keep up with the pace of assigned work are among the reasons for properties remaining un-mowed. We used a new bidding process to assign work. The process was intended to increase competition and encourage participation by smaller, neighborhood-based contractors; but, it lengthened the time required to get a property mowed. Also, some contractors were not accustomed to being required to remove cut weeds and trash as they mowed and numerous repeat visits to finish the job have been required of them by inspectors. Finally, the volume of properties to be mowed was much higher than in past years due to the increase in the number of vacant houses in our community.

We have not given up, however. New contracts based upon units of work to be done are being prepared. This will eliminate the time required to bid out work and allow for a faster response by contractors. The city council is being asked to appropriate additional funding so we may continue the effort. And, inspectors are working overtime to get work assigned to contractors and to inspect work after it is reported as completed by the contractors.

I believe all of the properties that need to be mowed have been identified and are in the process. If you are not sure about a property in your neighborhood, please check the Request for Service System at KIVAnet: http://kivaweb.kcmo.org/kivanet/2/index.cfm to verify an open case exists for it. You may also call 311 to check on a property or to report one that you do not find an active KIVAnet case for. We do not want to miss any.

We are well ahead of last year’s pace despite a reduction in administrative staff and no additional inspectors, but we are not at the pace you expect or that we expect of ourselves. I want to reassure you that the level of service you are seeing now is not the end product of our effort. I and my staff will continue to push until the level of service is at an appropriate level – which will be measured by your satisfaction with it.

I will strive to keep you informed of developments.


David Park
Acting Director
Neighborhood and Community Services
816-513-3231

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