Neglected property parcels in Hanceville will soon be subject to stricter maintenance guidelines, after the Hanceville City Council adopted a new ordinance that takes aim at landowners who allow their undeveloped sites to languish.

At its most recent regular meeting, the council repealed its existing ordinance relating to derelict properties and replaced it with a new one, in the process affording the city new avenues to compel owners of vacant tracts to keep them mowed and maintained.

The goal of the new ordinance isn’t to enforce aesthetic guidelines, said city leaders, but, rather, to prevent potential safety hazards. “The new language pertains to vacant lots in town, particularly wooded ones that have remained that way for a long time without being developed or cleared,” explained city clerk Tania Wilcox.

“Once someone does clear a lot, the city wants it to be maintained and not grow wild. So the council added that language — that, once a lot has been cleared, it then must be maintained and kept free of brush, vines, and weeds growing wild.”

Because the ordinance was adopted at its first reading, the council approved it, as state statutes require, on a roll call vote. Unanimously, the council agreed to repeal the former ordinance (Ord. 584) and replace it with the new one (Ord. 2024-4).

In other business at its regular meeting, the council:

— Approved a quote of $4,995 from Superior Services of Hanceville for the installation of new security cameras at City Hall.

— Declared surplus a 2016 Kawasaki Mule vehicle formerly used by public works, as well as three vehicles formerly used by the police department. The vehicles all will be sold at auction, providing the winning bids meet or exceed the city’s reserve pricing.

— Approved a request from First Source for Women to close a portion of Church Street during the daytime on Friday, Aug. 23 and Saturday, Aug. 24, to accommodate guest traffic for a fundraising sale.

— Reviewed a draft copy of an ordinance that would regulate tattoo and body piercing businesses in the city, and set a public hearing for 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 12, to solicit comment from the public.

— Took no action on a solicitation for bids for IT maintenance for computers and related systems used by the police department.

— Approved the minutes of the council’s July 11, regular meeting.