Health Department Canvassing for Public Nuisances

The City of Ottumwa Health and Inspections Department has started its seasonal canvassing the City for public nuisances. The Ottumwa Municipal Code generally defines a nuisance as; "Whatever is injurious to health, indecent, offensive to the senses, or an obstruction to the free use of property so as essentially to interfere with the comfortable enjoyment of life or property is a nuisance." Examples of nuisances that inspectors are looking for include: tall grass or weeds over twelve inches tall, trash or brush piles in yards and junk motor vehicles.

City Code allows Health Inspectors to enter private yards to investigate any nuisance or source of filth. Inspectors record and document nuisances they find. The resident will receive a written notice from the Health Department with specific information about the nuisance and a date for re-inspection. If the violation is not resolved by the listed date, a civil citation can be issued. Civil citation fines are $250 for a first citation in a 12-month period, $500 for a second violation and $750 for third and subsequent violations within the same 12-month period. In addition, if the property owner does not resolve the nuisance, the City can then take action to abate the nuisance. The cost of the action will be billed to the owner.

Residents are asked to be cooperative with the Health Department staff. Attempting to prevent any public employee from performing their duty is a misdemeanor. Residents with questions about nuisance canvassing can contact Health, Inspections and Solid Waste Director Jody Gates at 683-0694.