Dear Editor,
Many of us have received a certified letter from the City of Kingman Neighborhood Services Division, accusing citizens/businesses of being in violation of Kingman Municipal Code 7-165 (public nuisance) for weeds taller than six inches on properties in Kingman. The problem? With real estate transactions happening every day most people do not or no longer own the property the Kingman Neighborhood Services Department is citing. When we personally called to inquire about the letter received, we talked to a lady in the office and were told that they do not re-research before sending the violation letters. What research could they possibly have done? They clearly didn’t check with the Mohave County Assessor. Neighborhood Services used to be run by the Kingman Police department but has been changed recently. The Community Development Services division does not meet the community needs. Why doesn’t the City take a proactive approach? The beautiful City of Boulder, NV does.
Does the Neighborhood Services Department of the City of Kingman have so much time on their hands that they can afford to drive around town, document, and arbitrarily send code violation letters to citizens that aren’t even the property owners? If the City of Kingman wants to hold citizens accountable for code violations, then we, and all citizens, are going to start holding the city accountable. Perhaps the Neighborhood Services Department Officers should drive around Kingman and look at city-owned property and set the standard and expectation by ‘walking the walk’ … clean up all the weeds taller than six inches and garbage on city-owned property before nagging the citizens.
Why is the city still hiring employees that have very little experience and education? They, clearly, don’t receive proper operational and/or functional training and have no common sense but, I guess you get what you pay for. Our recommendation? Since they add no value, reallocate the money for city infrastructure improvements (i.e., the water department for pipe replacement, etc.). The city is repairing streets and, as we have been told, the water department ends up tearing up the newly enhanced streets just to replace 30 – 40-year-old water pipes / lines. How does that make any sense? And how is that being fiscally responsible?
We do not take pleasure in sending correspondence like this, but it continues to frustrate us and other citizens that the City of Kingman chooses to remain status-quo … $5 of city funds was wasted sending one letter that isn’t even relevant. It sure would be interesting to know how many other certified letters were sent at $5 each. Is the city looking to improve all properties or are the Neighborhood Services Officers selective in who they cite? Because there are plenty of properties, we all drive by on any given day, that are in violation of Kingman Municipal Code 7-165, including many city-owned properties … and I, and others, do not see anything improving. Here are just a few examples:
* At the corner of Airway & Andy Devine (from Maverick to Bashas) there is so much garbage, partially dead trees (not trimmed), and the weeds just keep growing and growing.
* Trees and plants are dead and water lines are watering dirt (by the Big Lots walkway, for example). And when trees do get cut down, city staff cut them down to a stump (instead of removing them) resulting in a tripping hazard (and a liability for the city).
* The landscaping around the Dollar Store downtown is filled with giant weeds, tumbleweeds, trash, etc.
* Look at our Mohave County Fairgrounds, which is a dump and has been that way for years. I know it’s not the City’s responsibility, but the city looks the other way and still hasn’t formed a lucrative partnership to beautify the fairgounds property… It’s an eye sore and Kingman citizens and Mohave County citizens are tired of the dust and no improvements.
* Too many to list. Please, you all drive the same streets we do. Don’t you see how ugly the city of Kingman is because of the trash, weeds, unkempt trees, bushes, grass, gopher holes (at ALL public parks), etc.?
Why isn’t everyone held accountable to the same standard? Bullhead and Lake Havasu City don’t make excuses but, instead, have chosen to keep their cities clean and hold everyone accountable – businesses and citizens alike. Why are some citizens in Kingman targeted and others are not. Why are some businesses in Kingman held to a higher standard and others are not? Members of city leadership, the Neighborhood Services Division, and the Parks & Recreation Director aren’t visionaries … we don’t have anyone in a position of leadership, power, and authority who understands government enough to restructure it and plan for our future!
People are frustrated. Get things fixed! Or do we need to find another City Manager? Take a look around … it’s obvious that the strategy to clean up Kingman needs some fine-tuning. Kingman has been and continues to be a dumpy freeway town that travelers only stop at to fill up their vehicles and their stomachs. This is not our mission or is it?
Thank you for your immediate attention to these matters. And please don’t hire another consulting company to take care of an issue that city leadership should be able to solve themselves.
P. Shuman
