1997-06-25 - CC Packet - (Admin.)

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s Norma and Burt Essex 7333 Old Mill Rd Centerville June 17, 1997 TO: Centerville City Council FROM: Norma and Burt Essex RE: Sodding This is in response to the letter received from the city manager stating that we must sod our lawn. Last fall we seeded our lawn. We were not informed that sodding was our only option. We are proposing that the attached letter from Jim March be rescinded because: A. A number of city employees knew last fall that we seeded and let it rest. At that time, we could have laid sod over the seeded area. B. This spring, our lawn was approved and our deposit was returned. Now you say it was a mistake. Why do we feel that we are paying for all the mistakes made by city employees, builder, and developer? C. We did not intentionally disobey the ordinance. D. At the time of closing we were >Q told that our only option was to sod. Neither were we told that we could not seed. When the builder gave us credit for landscaping, we told him we were planning to seed. He s id nothing about sodding. I called the builder last week. He said he was not aware of any such ordinance. E. As we understand, this issue appears to be the result of a call from a neighbor complaining about our lawn. Her front yard was sodded at that time. She also stated that another neighbor intended to seed. I checked with that neighbor. He said the builder was going to sod is yard. As you can see from the enclosed pictures, our lawn is in good shape. There is a picture included that shows the neighbors lawn who complained that our lawn looked crumby next to theirs. The picture is of their back yard. They have been in a year and a half and are not finished landscaping their yard. Our lawn is now well established and growing good. To lay sod at this time would be costly and involve: A. Tearing up an established lawn and lay sod, will be very costly. B. We spent $55.84 for seed; black dirt, 2 loads $443.58; bobcat /grading $210.00 at time of seeding. C. Cost of tearing up the lawn and sodding $1,400. (See attached estimate.) They can not do the work until late July. Enclosed are pictures of our lawn next to the neighbor's lawn who made the complaint. As you can see, our lawn is well established and in good condition. Giving us 30 days to obey the order is not very much time for a large project as this. Also, we are experiencing a drought and sod takes a lot of watering, more than an established lawn. Other residents have taken the full summer to lay their sod. Why such a time restraint? Mistakes were made, learn from them, and move on.