Katelyn Baker
Well-Known Member
Sterling Heights officials announced plans to "aggressively crackdown" on nuisance marijuana grow operations being conducted within the residential neighborhoods during a Nov. 3 press conference.
"Since the passage of the medical marijuana act, communities around Michigan have been attempting to deal with the side effects of marijuana growing within our communities, residential neighborhoods," Sterling Heights Police Chief John Berg said. "Sterling Heights is not immune to this problem."
The city filed its first circuit court action against a property owner "to abate the public nuisance conditions created by an unregistered grow operation" on Oct. 11, according to a media release.
City Attorney Marc Kaszubski urges property owners to avoid creating nuisance conditions and to comply with all city codes and ordinances.
The Police Department has received dozens of complaints from the residents, according to Berg. There are several residents who can't enjoy living in their homes or being in their backyards due to this problem.
"Our Police Department is very proactive, in as such, we will ensure that the quality of life issues that disturb the peace and tranquility of our neighborhoods are dealt with in a quick and decisive manner," Berg said.
When they get complaints or tips regarding illegal marijuana grow operations, they plan on expediting the investigations and move rapidly to resolve the situations.
"We will not tolerate these nuisances and will take appropriate actions in dealing with the individuals that are causing these disturbances within our neighborhoods," Berg said.
The problems relating to marijuana being grown within residential communities include increased traffic throughout the neighborhoods, obnoxious odors related to the growing and cultivation of marijuana, and noise related to multiple air conditioners, which are needed to cool off these homes, as well as power surges and extremely bright lighting emanating from these grow houses, according to Berg.
The code enforcement officers have been proactive dealing with the nuisance marijuana problems, according to City Development Director Denice Gersternberg. They have been "proactively investigating additional air conditioning units, 24-hour generator operations, interior lights on all hours of the day, odors, taped window coverings and other clear signals that could indicate a nuisance grow operation."
"When these nuisance conditions are verified, there is an immediate joint effort by Police, City Clerk and City Attorney to open an investigation into potential abatement," Gersternberg said in a press release.
They check to see if the proper electrical and mechanical permits have been pulled to install these air conditioners. They then notify their electrical and mechanical inspectors so they can be on the lookout for those kinds of issues, according to Gersternberg.
"If the property owner does not have permits, we send a notice of violations out," she said. "If the property owner does not respond to our notice of violations, we issue tickets. And if they do not respond to our tickets, we work with the city attorney to fast-track a lawsuit to circuit court."
She said they write more than 11,000 violations a year and complete more than 22,000 inspections.
Kaszubski said they are not focused on the registered caregivers and users that grow medical marijuana for their own consumption. Instead, they're focused on shutting down the illegal grow house operations that do not follow city ordinances.
"We have shut down dozens of grow operations that fall outside the state law and will continue to do so, seizing plants, equipment and proceeds according to state and federal forfeiture laws and making arrests when appropriate," Berg said.
In 2016, 14 houses were shut down. In 2014 and 2015, 19 houses were shut down. According to Berg, several arrests have been made this year.
As of early November, eight people have either applied for registration, received registration or are in the process of going through the registration, according to Berg.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Sterling Heights Plans Crackdown On Marijuana Grow Operations
Author: Emilee Gorshe
Contact: (586) 469-4510
Photo Credit: Emilee Gorshe
Website: The Macomb Daily
"Since the passage of the medical marijuana act, communities around Michigan have been attempting to deal with the side effects of marijuana growing within our communities, residential neighborhoods," Sterling Heights Police Chief John Berg said. "Sterling Heights is not immune to this problem."
The city filed its first circuit court action against a property owner "to abate the public nuisance conditions created by an unregistered grow operation" on Oct. 11, according to a media release.
City Attorney Marc Kaszubski urges property owners to avoid creating nuisance conditions and to comply with all city codes and ordinances.
The Police Department has received dozens of complaints from the residents, according to Berg. There are several residents who can't enjoy living in their homes or being in their backyards due to this problem.
"Our Police Department is very proactive, in as such, we will ensure that the quality of life issues that disturb the peace and tranquility of our neighborhoods are dealt with in a quick and decisive manner," Berg said.
When they get complaints or tips regarding illegal marijuana grow operations, they plan on expediting the investigations and move rapidly to resolve the situations.
"We will not tolerate these nuisances and will take appropriate actions in dealing with the individuals that are causing these disturbances within our neighborhoods," Berg said.
The problems relating to marijuana being grown within residential communities include increased traffic throughout the neighborhoods, obnoxious odors related to the growing and cultivation of marijuana, and noise related to multiple air conditioners, which are needed to cool off these homes, as well as power surges and extremely bright lighting emanating from these grow houses, according to Berg.
The code enforcement officers have been proactive dealing with the nuisance marijuana problems, according to City Development Director Denice Gersternberg. They have been "proactively investigating additional air conditioning units, 24-hour generator operations, interior lights on all hours of the day, odors, taped window coverings and other clear signals that could indicate a nuisance grow operation."
"When these nuisance conditions are verified, there is an immediate joint effort by Police, City Clerk and City Attorney to open an investigation into potential abatement," Gersternberg said in a press release.
They check to see if the proper electrical and mechanical permits have been pulled to install these air conditioners. They then notify their electrical and mechanical inspectors so they can be on the lookout for those kinds of issues, according to Gersternberg.
"If the property owner does not have permits, we send a notice of violations out," she said. "If the property owner does not respond to our notice of violations, we issue tickets. And if they do not respond to our tickets, we work with the city attorney to fast-track a lawsuit to circuit court."
She said they write more than 11,000 violations a year and complete more than 22,000 inspections.
Kaszubski said they are not focused on the registered caregivers and users that grow medical marijuana for their own consumption. Instead, they're focused on shutting down the illegal grow house operations that do not follow city ordinances.
"We have shut down dozens of grow operations that fall outside the state law and will continue to do so, seizing plants, equipment and proceeds according to state and federal forfeiture laws and making arrests when appropriate," Berg said.
In 2016, 14 houses were shut down. In 2014 and 2015, 19 houses were shut down. According to Berg, several arrests have been made this year.
As of early November, eight people have either applied for registration, received registration or are in the process of going through the registration, according to Berg.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Sterling Heights Plans Crackdown On Marijuana Grow Operations
Author: Emilee Gorshe
Contact: (586) 469-4510
Photo Credit: Emilee Gorshe
Website: The Macomb Daily
