<span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: ‘Lucida Sans’;" class="R~sep~ACopyBody">What’s the next step a resident should take when they’ve contacted property standards several times and the property in question still is not cleaned up?</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“During the rainy, summer months, our Property Standards Division usually becomes backlogged with lawn maintenance violations,” Terry Magnon, Lake Charles’ city inspection supervisor, said in a statement forwarded to The Informer.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“After a property in question is reviewed by a city inspector, the property owner is notified of the ordinance violation through certified mail or publication in the</span> <span style="font-style: italic;" class="R~sep~ACopyBody">American Press</span><span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">, and then a 10-day notice must legally be given.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“After notice is given, then a lawn maintenance professional is contracted to bring the property into standards compliance.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">City spokesman Matt Young said residents who believe they’ve received an unsatisfactory response from a city department should contact the Mayor’s Action Line — at 491-1346 or mayorsactionline@cityoflc.us — or take the matter to the City Council.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“The Mayor’s Action Line serves as a primary point of contact for citizen complaints. The system processes and tracks each call and email, which is entered into our system and referred to the appropriate department,” Young wrote in an email.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“The department then has three working days to investigate and respond to the caller with what steps can be or have been taken to resolve the issue.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Young said residents can speak at a City Council agenda meeting by visiting the city’s website and clicking on “Speak at an Agenda Meeting” under the “How do I?” tab.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Those without Internet access can call 491-1290 to make their request, he said.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“Residents will then be assigned a meeting date to attend so that they can present their issue to the members of the City Council,” Young wrote.</span>

<span style="font-weight: bold;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">Online:</span> <span class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote"><a href="www.cityoflakecharles.com">www.cityoflakecharles.com</a>.</span>

<span class="R~sep~AHeadBrief"> </span>

<span class="R~sep~AHeadBrief" style="font-size: 14px;">Session costs $25K, $35K per day</span>

<span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: ‘Lucida Sans’;" class="R~sep~ACopyBody">What does it cost to hold a legislative session?</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">According to a Legislative Fiscal Office note from a 2015 bill, the costs are about $25,000 per legislative day in the Senate and $35,000 a day in the House, including member and staff</span> <span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">per diem and support staff wages and overtime.</span>

<span style="font-weight: bold;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">Online:</span> <span class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote"><a href="http://www.legis.la.gov">www.legis.la.gov</a>.</span>

<p style="text-align: center;"><span class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">—</span>

<span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">The I</span><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">nform</span><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">er answers questions from rea</span><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">ders each Sunday, Monday a</span><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">nd Wednesday. It is re</span><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">searched and written by</span> <span style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">Andrew Perzo</span><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">, an</span> <span style="font-style: italic; font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">American Press</span> <span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">staff wri</span><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">ter. To ask a question, call</span> <span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">494-409</span><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">8 and leave voice mail, or ema</span><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">il informer@americanpress.com.</span>