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Noxious weeds a problem on foreclosed land
County commissioners may allow eradication
Herald Staff Writer
Photo by NICK MANNING/Herald
Greenfield Park subdivision, near Hermosa, essentially was abandoned by its developer because of bankruptcy, and it now is infested with native and non-native weeds alike. La Plata County commissioners will hear two resolutions at their Tuesday meeting that would allow the county to enter private property to eradicate noxious weeds. Disturbed soil offers the perfect environment for weeds.
The weed problem has gotten so bad that neighbors have been complaining, and La Plata County Commissioners will consider two resolutions Tuesday that would allow the county to enter the properties to control the weeds.
The resolutions state that the property owners, Cottonwoods at Dalton Ranch Homeowners and Greenfield Park LLC, were issued warnings, including a final notice to deal with the weeds within 10 days.
Kreutzer, who has at least two developments worth millions in foreclosure, has been named as a defendant in more than 20 lawsuits, most alleging nonpayment of loans.
In addition to the Cottonwoods and Greenfield Park projects, he also had The Cove, Ptarmigan Ridge Townhomes and other projects.
Rod Cook, who heads the county weed department, said the lots in Greenfield were scraped off to make way for homes that never were built. The disturbed soil offered the perfect environment for dormant weed seeds to germinate and proliferate.
"They came back with a vengeance pretty much," he said.
In recent years, the county has stepped up its weed-fighting efforts, allowing the weed department to get a court order to go after weeds on private property, then send the owner the bill. If an owner fails to pay, a lien is put on the property.
Though most homeowners take action after a warning, chronically infested properties such as these can take a while to work through the enforcement process.
"It has been ongoing for over a year. It's taken a long time to get it into the system to get something done on it," Cook said of the Greenfield and Cottonwoods properties.
It seems unlikely that the county will recoup its cost for contracting to have the parcels treated, but Cook said it will have a "priority lien," putting it toward the front of the line for payback.
Commissioners will consider the weed resolutions during their regular business meeting that starts at 10 a.m. Tuesday.
Messages left for commissioners Sunday were not immediately returned.
Cook said if the weed-eradicated land is not revegetated, the scourge will return again next year.
"It's not perfect, but it's going to be temporary relief," he said.
He noted that late fall, before the first snow, is a good time to reseed desirable grasses.
The seeds will get packed down by the snow, he said, giving them good soil contact and a water source for germinating when the spring thaw comes.
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