Hip Hip Hooray to the City of Natchez’s administration and the board of aldermen for taking action to address the overgrown grass and brush on abandoned properties.

Recently, aldermen approved the hiring of two additional employees, particularly to tackle the nuisance of overgrown, abandoned properties.

We are certain neighbors of these properties are breathing a sigh of relief. One neighbor to such a property had given it a nickname, “the snake den.”

It’s a job much bigger than simply cutting grass. Many of the properties have been abandoned for so long, clearing them requires cutting down trees and clearing significant brush.

As everywhere, money is tight in the city. In the past, such properties were addressed only when the city’s public works department was “caught up” with its usual work, said Justin Dollar, the city’s public works supervisor.

Who’s ever caught up at work?

The problem is, ignoring those properties creates huge problems for all who live around them. Not only are the unkempt properties unsightly, they create a safety and health hazard, particularly for children. Overgrown yards attract not only snakes, but also rats and other vermin that potentially carry diseases.

Having two employees focus on these overgrown properties will go a long way toward taking care of the problem.

We think finding funds for the two employees and additional equipment for this work is worth the expense.