Case Date:

3/29/2018

Overgrown bamboo at 1002 W 6 St and Elm bending into sidewalks and street obstructing traffic. Bird droppings covering the sidewalk. The invasive plant has encroached on neighboring property where we live at 1004, so we are having to engage removal services and eventually install impermeable barriers at our expense. The back yard of 1002 is overgrown also, feral cats, possum and a skunk have been sited or smelled in a fallen shed which has not been cleared out. The Elm Street side of 1002 is full of debris and overgrowth and there is an unattended stagnant water feature where we hear frogs in the summer (which do attract copperhead snakes). Someone does seem to be inhabiting the house, though we know that the owner of the house does not reside in Indiana presently.

Case Date:

2/2/2018

I live at 812 W 2nd St. My next door neighbor lives at 820 W. 2nd St. Her back yard is overgrown and has containers that fill with water. In warm weather these containers breed mosquitos. I can't even go outside in the summer because the mosquitos are so bad. Also, she won't cut her grass along 2nd St. She says it is flowers, but it is weeds. I have seen rats in there. Also it is a traffic hazard because cars turning on to 2nd St. from Euclid St. can't see oncoming traffic. I am also sending a copy of this email to the State Board of Health in Indianapolis.

Case Date:

6/23/2025

We are trying to figure out with our neighbor how to manage invasive, prohibited species on the property line. We are submitting our letter from us to them and would like advisement from the appropriate city employee to make sure we handle the issue correctly. James and Constance, Upon my review, it is not clear who cut back the shrubs / vegetation. Ellee and I reviewed the type of plants affected and there were no trees, only shrubs / bushes, as designated by the Bloomington UDO. The area in question is in both a Utilities easement and a Water run off / drainage type easement. I am not sure if someone was contracted to maintain these areas. That said, we did notice a significant number of invasive plant species originating from your property and invading / growing onto our property. As per the Bloomington UDO, these specific plants should be removed from one’s property. Our cursory evaluation identified at least and not limited to: common privet, porcelain berry, Japanese honey suckle, winter creeper and English ivy and poison ivy. What we would like by July 1, 2025 is your plan to maintain or eliminate the plants on the city’s invasive species list that originate from your property and grow onto our property. We will then take your proposal to the City for approval, as it is well established that maintaining invasive species includes not letting the plant flower so as to limit spread. If you have any questions identifying the specific plants, Ellee has graciously agreed to donate her time and effort to help you identify. If you cannot come up with a definitive plan for invasive species maintenance or elimination, The Spiers will be happy to maintain the invasive species growing from your portion of the easement onto our property in a quarterly fashion. All we ask is that you hire an official surveyor to stake a clear delineation of property lines / easement, so we know which of your invasive species plants are our responsibility to maintain. As good stewards of the community and being good neighbors, we appreciate your prompt attention to this matter. Each season that goes by, your invasive species seed the creek and spread the invasive plants throughout Bloomington. If you cannot provide a reasonable plan, we will ask the City for assistance in devising a plan. Again, thank you for bringing this to my intention. I learned a lot about invasive species today. Bret