Council approves abatement order for overgrowth at 877 Ivalwood Road

The Irondale City Council voted to approve Resolution 2026R141, declaring weeds, overgrowth and noxious visual matter at 877 Ivalwood Road a public nuisance and ordering abatement.

Chief Kellogg told the council that, at the direction of the city attorney, staff visited the property and took photographs ‘‘approximately 12:30 p.m.’’ that day and described the case as a long‑running matter reaching what he called ‘‘the end of it.’’ No owner appeared at the hearing. Council President read the text of the resolution and opened the floor to public comment.

A neighbor and other members of the public asked whether the abatement would remove the porch hoarding and trash stacked on the porch; one commenter said the boxes were ‘‘stacked up to the ceiling’’ and that the condition had led to a rat infestation affecting adjacent yards. Council members and Chief Kellogg said the resolution as written covers weeds, overgrowth and ‘‘noxious visual matter’’ and that removal of household trash and hoarded materials would likely require a separate action or court process.

After public testimony, Councilman London moved to close the public hearing; the motion carried. Councilwoman Arnold moved to approve Resolution 2026R141; the motion was seconded and the council voted in favor. The council did not take additional action on trash removal at the meeting and indicated that separate procedures would be required for garbage or hoarding abatement.

The abatement order applies to the property at 877 Ivalwood Road; the record identifies the item as Resolution 2026R141. Chief Kellogg provided photographs to the council during the hearing. The record does not specify a timeline for the city’s contractors to accomplish the abatement or whether the city will seek cost recovery from the property owner.