South Longview residents urge stronger code enforcement, complain of uncut lots and storm debris

Residents from South Longview used public comment on Oct. 9 to report long‑standing maintenance problems they said are harming neighborhood conditions and senior residents.

Brenda Woolridge, who identified her address as 2217 South Thirteenth Street, listed concerns including vacant lots that are not being mowed, contractors failing to complete contracted mowing, and storm limbs that have remained in yards and on the side of the road for more than a year. Woolridge said some property owners — including seniors — may not know who to contact and urged the city to prioritize upkeep in South Longview. “South Longview is not beautiful right now,” Woolridge said.

G. Floyd (spoke later in the public‑comment period) clarified a utility contractor practice: he said the utility company trims limbs from around power lines and piles them on the adjacent property, expecting the property owner to call the city or arrange removal, and he advised property owners to contact the city for pickup if limbs remain.

Councilmembers acknowledged the concerns and discussed contractor oversight. No formal council action was taken during the meeting to change code enforcement staffing or funding; councilmembers encouraged residents to use existing city reporting channels and for staff to follow up with affected neighborhoods.