I really don't know where to ask this but I need some advice. I bought a property that I'm working on and it has a HORRENDOUS mosquito problem. Part of it is probably due to all the undergrowth on my property which I am gradually getting rid of. I also think part of the problem is standing water left in 20 - 30 old tires dumped on my neighbor's vacant lot in some brush right against my fence. Our city code does not allow junk like that in the city, but I know he just has them there because you have to pay to dispose of old tires.

Do I:

A) Politely ask the owner if he would remove the tires. If he says no and I call the city, he's going to know who called them and there could be tension.

B) Just say to heck with it and call the city anonymously and report it. We have a code compliance officer that drives around the city looking for such and making property owners clean up their mess.

I don't want to start any kind of trouble with my new neighbor but I also don't like having to shower in DEET just to exist on my property. Any advice? Thanks.

Pat

P.S. And yes, I may be making WAY more out of this than it is, but...

I'd go with B. He is not a good citizen by storing these tire so I doubt if he'd respond to politeness. He may not even respond to the city. You might also consider, for your property, spraying Cutter's back yard mosquito spray. CUTTER BUG FREE BACKYARD SPRAY 61064 SPECTRUM Don't let that price scare you, that's the case price. It will kill many and drive the rest awy, proably to your neighbor's yard.

I would go to the city and report it. Then if he says something, you can even pretend they complained about your weeds ( which they will if you don't clean that up also)

Option B is the only way to go. Don't bother asking or telling the neighbor as he obviously has been doing this for who knows how long. It's time to put an end to this free for all next door. Your health is at stake here so don't be shy about getting rid of the tires.

"B", but remember you don't say "My next door neighbor at <address>...".

This is just me. I'd say to neighbor, do you want those tires? Then get him to give them to you for nothing. He gets rid of them (what you wanted) and likes you, which won't happen if you just report the mess. You can cut old tires in half and turn upside down so they don't collect rain. You can stack them like bricks with only the edges out, cover with soil to form low retaining walls. You can give them to a farmer to hold down the tarp cover for his bunk silo. Some people, especially elderly, are just packrats save everything because they remember the Depression
p.s. maybe since you said the prop. Was vacant the mosqitos are just really hungry! We had a huge brown dog tick problem when we built our home, lot was FOR SALE for 3 years and those ticks were starving out there!

Thanks for the suggestions cotton. I really don't have time to deal with them myself as I currently have 4 projects going which are pretty much kicking my butt. I appreciate everyone's suggestions. Once I get the water turned on over there I'll give that Cutter spray a shot Ballenger. It's a big lot so I'll probably NEED a whole case! :-)

Hello JP:

I have a different point of view. Yes, I hate confrontations... But, I hate snitching even more. It appears to BE the path of least resistance - or is it? I don't trust the city to keep your name anonymous, and/or he may figure it out for himself. That ain't going to be good.

If it were me (and you did ask us), I'd give him a shot at cleaning 'em up first. I don't know what you mean by being "polite". If you mean kissing up to him so as not to piss him off, then I don't think you should be "polite".

In my view, polite is straightforward. You don't have to call him names. You don't have to make him the bad guy. You just have to tell him what's so. And, what's so, is that he has to clean up his property.

I'm not good at doing this face to face. I AM good at composing this kind of letter. Besides, I think you need a paper trail. Therefore, I'd write him a no nonsense thus and so letter, and what you're going to do if thus and so isn't carried out. Give him a reasonable amount of time to respond or get it done. If he doesn't, call the cops (city). Send your letter certified, return receipt requested.

I could sleep at night doing that.

excon

PS> (edited) By the way, YOU aren't starting trouble. He did.

It is a preexisting condition, you saw it when you toured the property before you bought? I mean obviously it's against the law for him to keep a junkheap but I doubt you are telling him or the local govt. anything they don't already know. Even I dislike the new neighbor who moves in and then wants to boss everyone else around, I mean nobody's perfect, you know, eventually your loud radio or barking dog or lights shining on your property will bother them a little too. I see your point, but you don't have to actually want his tires, just act like you do and this will worry him, he'll suddenly think his crap is valuable, maybe put it away, out of sight, out of reach of some tire grabber like you, you see?