Cotulla’s ‘nuisance letters’ continue in clean-up drive

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At least six Cotulla property owners have been sent second warnings in recent days as part of an ongoing effort by City Hall to promote better maintenance of homes and yards, and to rid streets and alleys of junked vehicles.

In his monthly presentation to the city council Thursday, February 9, code enforcement officer Joey Garcia said many of the property owners and residents has has contacted over the past year regarding overgrown lots and vehicles blocking traffic have complied with city ordinances and have begun taking action.

Others, however, have either failed to comply or have ignored repeated warnings.

In some cases, Garcia told councilors last year, inoperable vehicles have been left in city service alleys or on public rights of way for so long that trees and grass have covered them.

In other cases, according to City Hall, properties whose yards have been left untended are regarded as a public nuisance because they become habitats for wild animals, stray dogs and cats, and dilapidated or abandoned homes become havens for criminal activity, including drug use.

Although the city has stepped up its clean-up plan by ordering removal of unsafe, abandoned or partially collapsed structures, including vacant mobile homes, the demolition rate of one or two per month has left scores hitherto untouched.

In late 2022, Garcia produced a shortlist of properties that had been targeted for demolition and told councilors that property owners would find a lien attached to their title deeds for the cost of the work to clear old structures. Some of the 12 on that list have now been demolished as well as others that Garcia identified since.

In one recent case, a property owner heeded a warning letter from City Hall and made an agreement on clean-up with the city, ultimately paying for the demolition.

In day-to-day operations, however, Garcia has met mixed responses from those he has contacted regarding their unkempt properties.

“Residents have been notified of high grass and weeds, and we have sent nuisance letters regarding non-operable vehicles,” the officer told councilors last week. “Second warning letters have gone to those who did not respond.”

City Hall has confirmed that inoperable vehicles blocking service alleys or impeding traffic on city streets are tagged with an orange label. A second such label, according to Garcia, precedes a vehicle’s removal.

The city has not indicated whether it plans to pursue a plan for removal of junked vehicles that are situated on private property, focusing only in the past six months on those abandoned on public rights of way.

Councilors voted last year to allow City Administrator Larry Dovalina to make an agreement with a vehicle towing and wrecker service that will remove abandoned vehicles from public streets at no cost to Cotulla. Fees incurred by the towing are charged to the vehicle owners.

Councilor Estanislado “Tanis” Lopez asked Garcia last week whether he has addressed the apparent nuisance of an overgrown property on the corner of Leona Street and Leonard Avenue. Councilors learned that records indicate the building may be listed under the same ownership as the Amberson, or Cattlemen’s Hotel, downtown on the intersection of Tilden / Hwy 97 and Main streets.

Garcia said he is aware of the property’s condition but has received no reply to his warning letters. He added that he was told by other sources that the property owner had died.

“If everybody says the guy died, he probably died,” City Attorney Steve Pena said.

Fees for a clean-up, however, may continue being attached to a property in the form of a title lien, regardless of an owner being alive. If a property is put up for public auction, a buyer will first be required to settle back taxes and outstanding liens.

“We end up putting lien over lien on a property,” Garcia said, indicating that he hopes his office’s consistent mailing and outreach will prompt compliance. “We cut the grass and it grows right back up again.”