Coats will resume mowing unclaimed rights‑of‑way while drafting policy
After residents raised concerns over overgrown lawns, the board directed Public Works to resume mowing streets that lack adjacent property owners or are vacant until a formal right‑of‑way policy is adopted. The town attorney said state statutes require roadway safety but do not mandate mowing.
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Residents pressed the board about yards and rights-of-way at the Aug. 14 meeting, and the Board of Commissioners adopted an interim approach directing Public Works to cut grass on streets that do not have adjacent property owners or vacant lots while staff and the board draft a formal policy. Town Attorney Alton Bain advised the council that statutes require the town to keep roadways "in a safe condition" but that the town is "not legally required to mow the right of way." The motion to resume cutting in the interim passed unanimously (mover: Commissioner Kelvin Gilbert; second: Commissioner Shirley Allen).
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