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suddenImpact · Jun 29, 2007, 10:08 AM

The below is a copied article from my local news station. Apparently its illeagal in my state to not have green grass in your yard. You can find the original article at WOODTV.com & WOOD TV8 - Grand Rapids news, weather, sports and video - White Cloud yard police put man in jail

WHITE CLOUD -- A Newaygo County man could spend another weekend behind bars if he doesn't take care of his yard.

David Burch says he tried to seed the yard last fall but it wouldn't take root. This all stems from a contractor who failed to sod the yard in the first place. Now a judge is saying, do the yard or do the time.

"The people who work at the court, at the jail, thought it was funny," Burch said. "They said there had to be more. I said, 'No, it's just because I don't have grass growing.' They said, 'You're in here for that?'"

He claims he is not skirting the law. Burch said the contractor for his new house is responsible for the lawn. But a White Cloud city ordinance states otherwise.

"This has been in the courts for over a year," said White Cloud Police Chief Roger Ungrey. "I believe Mr. Burch has made an attempt. He did bring me in some receipts for grass seed."

But when it didn't grow, a county judge ordered the yard planted. It never happened. Again this April - no sprouts. Then, in jail, an inspiration. Burch is sodding his yard with donated turf.

"He has been working on it," Ungrey said. "However, he remains to this day noncompliant."

That is because the backyard must also be green.

But will the patchwork sod qualify as a lawn? "It's not your normal sod that you would have, that you would go to a sod farm and purchase," Ungrey told 24 Hour News 8. "So that remains to be seen. I can't answer that question."

Burch was back in court Thursday. The judge told him he has two weeks to complete the job. If not, it's another weekend back in jail.

laurenjd · Jun 29, 2007, 03:36 PM

Absolutely UNBELIEVABLE!! I don't even know what to say about that, I just can't believe it! Ridiculous!

Myth · Jun 29, 2007, 05:19 PM

That is so stupid... Don't they have anything better to spend the taxpayers money on besides a lack of lawn... I thought drugs and violence had priority... Guess I was wrong

suddenImpact · Jul 2, 2007, 05:22 AM

I agree since I live in Michigan, and we're going through a "budget Crisis" right now, I forget what it is, but we're like $3 million short of what we need. Its because we waste so many peoples time and money to argue about who has grass in there yard!

cal823 · Jul 2, 2007, 05:55 AM

Lol, that's crazy

ScottGem · Jul 2, 2007, 06:06 AM

Actually its not so crazy nor is it unusual. This is a classic issue of two sides to every story.
We've had cases on LI of people being fined and jailed for ignoring a judges order to mow their lawns. The fact of the matter, is, if you lived next door or even on the same block as Mr Burch, you might be applauding the judge because you are thinking about your property values, especially if you were trying to sell your house with a dirt yard next door.

mr.yet · Jul 2, 2007, 06:16 AM

TAKE THEM TO COURT:

42 USC 1983
§ 1983. Civil action for deprivation of rights

Every person who, under color of any statute, ordinance, regulation, custom, or usage, of any State or Territory or the District of Columbia, subjects, or causes to be subjected, any citizen of the United States or other person within the jurisdiction thereof to the deprivation of any rights, privileges, or immunities secured by the Constitution and laws, shall be liable to the party injured in an action at law, suit in equity, or other proper proceeding for redress, except that in any action brought against a judicial officer for an act or omission taken in such officer's judicial capacity, injunctive relief shall not be granted unless a declaratory decree was violated or declaratory relief was unavailable. For the purposes of this section, any Act of Congress applicable exclusively to the District of Columbia shall be considered to be a statute of the District of Columbia.

bushg · Jul 2, 2007, 06:23 AM

Scott I agree,we have a house behind us, this man has many different propertys and this is used as income loss 5 effiency units. That he stores old refrigerators and stoves in the back yard.He lets the grass get 3 feet high and then weedwacks it . Beside the potential for rats and other varmin hiding out in his grass it is not pleasant to look at. Thankfully most of it is hidden by my garage. I just feel for the neighbors beside him.

Myth · Jul 2, 2007, 09:30 AM

I agree that if he wasn't trying to do anything about it then it would be a cause for concern, But I think the man has truly made an effort and nothing is working. If you lock him up for the weekend when will he have the time to plant anything? It seems kind of self defeating to me

Synnen · Jul 2, 2007, 09:38 AM

If he truly believes that it was the builders, he has the right to sue THEM, in turn.

I would be mightily upset, were I this man's neighbor. It was probably his neighbors that started this in the first place, really.

suddenImpact · Jul 2, 2007, 10:35 AM

I completely agree about the people that let their grass grow extremely high, and that have garbage laying all over. I think though, if he has the reciepts showing that he has been trying to get the grass to grow, he shouldn't be put in jail. Not everyone can afford to keep trying over and over the instant the judge says so. (Although they did say this has been going on for over a year.)

It just seems like they would kind of understand that he has been trying... I don't know Although I do agree that he should sue the people he hired to do it...

ScottGem · Jul 2, 2007, 10:45 AM

I have the feeling the judge didn't feel he was working hard enough.

tomder55 · Jul 2, 2007, 10:57 AM

When I was on LI the house across the street was labeled 'jungle habitat ' for it's unkept appearance . Still ;if the guy can demonstrate a good faith effort to fix the problem then jail time is unjust.

cal823 · Jul 2, 2007, 09:49 PM

Here's a solution. Maybe whoever made that silly law, should be given a pair of clippers, some gloves, and some seed, and do it himself.

ScottGem · Jul 3, 2007, 05:14 AM

Originally Posted by cal823

heres a solution. maybe whoever made that silly law, should be given a pair of clippers, some gloves, and some seed, and do it himself.

I think you missed a point here. I don't believe the law IS silly. I believe its an attempt as a local govt to maintain property values. The application of the law may have been extreme in this case, but not the law.