Springfield landowner: city needs to care for its land

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WICS/WRSP) — A Springfield landowner is demanding accountability from the city because of weeds he said are taller than his six-foot fence.

He said if he is going to be fined for neglecting his property, so should the city.

The Springfield Public Works Department confirmed that the city owns the land that the landowner was referencing and is responsible for maintaining it, but it hasn't happened yet.

Springfield Public Works Deputy Director Darryl Harris said water from the neighborhood gathers there, allowing the grass and weeds grow faster than usual.

Harris said these types of properties are inspected, but not as often as lots and other properties the city owns.

"I think a lot of times, the public says that this is a city or a county lot and we learn later after we look it up, that it's not," Harris said. "In those cases, we do sentence a violation to the actual owner."

Harris said if you see something like this, you can call the city and they will get to the bottom of it one way or another.

He assured that the lot in question is scheduled to be taken care of by the end of the month.

The Springfield Public Works Department has over 450 properties that they regularly maintain.