Midland City held a public hearing and first reading Nov. 6 on an updated ordinance to clarify and make enforceable limits on weed, grass and brush height.

Staff said the draft sets a 12‑inch maximum height in most areas and requires that cut weeds be removed within 24 hours; the restriction would apply within five feet of a public road, trail or structure. The draft includes exceptions for agricultural production, natural growth areas and designated recreation areas. Staff explained the changes are intended to make enforcement more objective and consistent than the current code language.

Residents raised questions during the hearing. One asked whether ditches that run behind fences would be covered; staff said that if a ditch is within five feet of a public roadway, the limitation would apply but otherwise agricultural or natural growth exemptions may be relevant. Council members noted specific habitat and wetland concerns at Firefly Park and asked staff to consider clear exceptions for wetlands, riparian areas and protected habitats (fireflies, native plants) that are difficult or inappropriate to mow. Council also discussed extending the 24‑hour removal requirement for cut weeds to 48 hours to account for weekend work schedules.

The council approved the ordinance on first reading and directed staff to refine definitions (agricultural production, natural growth, recreation areas), examine the wildland‑urban interface/defensible space provisions where they overlap with existing code, and return with amendments that address exceptions for wetlands and clarify the enforcement timeline.

(Reporting note: ordinance text, including the 12‑inch figure and the five‑foot proximity rule, is drawn from staff presentation Nov. 6.)