Residents Headed To Court For Tending To City Property

The city said on Thursday that it planned to take several residents to court to stop them from cutting city grass and tending to city property.

According to Wes Phillips of the City Attorney’s Office, residents near Hoover Reservoir tended to property that was not theirs.

“This land is owned by the citizens of Columbus,” Phillips said. “Its purpose is to protect drinking water. This is not public property. It’s private parkland.”

Phillips said that litigation usually is the last resort.

Resident Barbara Thompson said that she loves her neighborhood.

“We had a pristine area where you could bring your boat in and bring it right up on the sand,” Thompson said. “We have loved living here, and our property value has gone way down. It’s eroded back so far because the city wouldn’t let us take care of it.”

Thompson said that she, and other residents, are waiting for their day in court to resolve their differences with the city.

“It’s really a problem, and so it’s been a challenge,” Thompson said. “People are upset about that.”

City officials said that they have a land stewardship program for people who live next to city property. The residents have to enter into an agreement with the city, and with permission they can use city land, Ludlow reported.

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