To the editor: 

This is a public service announcement to all Barrington homeowners who spend time, effort, and money on the upkeep of their houses and/or lawns … don’t stress if you get a little behind as there are apparently no laws, ordinances, and/or enforcements for poorly kept properties.  

I live adjacent to a property on Waseca Avenue and for 20-plus years there have been no upgrades to an already old house, which is now falling apart and seems almost uninhabitable, despite the owner renting it out when they find a tenant; gutters are falling off, exterior lead paint is peeling and chipping away for distribution around the neighborhood by the wind, etc.  

Meanwhile, the “lawn” is more of a jungle with high grass, out of control fruit trees, and huge weeds which infiltrate my yard no matter what I do to fight them back; not to mention the wildlife using the vegetation as cover and then coming to my yard to snack on my lawn, bushes, and flowers.  

We have obviously been patient based on promises made to upgrade the property, but the most recent approval to do so has expired so the deterioration of the house continues, and they have just stopped doing anything with the grounds.  

We have attended meetings, sent e-mails, and talked to officials with the town but it appears there is no recourse for the deplorable condition of this property, which according to my real estate friends will be an issue when I decide to sell my property.  

I suspect I am not alone in this situation, but it is perplexing in a place which is known to be a good community that nothing can be done to resolve properties which clearly does not belong in the otherwise nice surroundings of Barrington. 

Maybe we should all let our properties go to hell and see how fast they decide to address the few bad situations?!? I doubt there is any solution to my frustration, but it is somewhat therapeutic to vent.  

Thank you for listening.

Ed McNaught

Barrington