Neighbor fed up with overgrown weeds in Pueblo

Weed-choked properties continue to consume lawns across Pueblo.

John Gallegos has called the city three times to complain about the massive weeds near his home in the 800 block of Santa Clara Ave. He made the first call more than three months ago.

“What I’m worried about is the rodent problem and what comes with that,” Gallegos said.

City code enforcement manager Karen Willson said the property is on the city’s list of abatement projects, but about 50 properties are on that list. Unfortunately for Gallegos — the home on Santa Clara is toward the bottom of the list.

“The thing that we’re up against this year is the huge increase in weed complaints as well as trash complaints,” Willson said, citing the rainy days in May.

The city has four part-time abatement workers who handle those complaints, one of whom was recently hired. Willson said the city is looking to hire another two.

“The people who’ve been applying for those jobs have not passed their background checks or drug tests,” Willson said.

A lack of qualified candidates means Gallegos will have to wait even longer.

“I didn’t know number one weeds could grow that high,” Gallegos said. “If they grow higher I’ll be shocked.”`