HICKORY - Graffiti will be considered a nuisance on October 1, 2010, and until then the city developed a graffiti removal grant program to help clean up properties throughout the city.

Hickory City Council recently set aside $25,000 for the grant.  The city will reimburse the property owner up to 50 percent, but no more than $1,000 to clean up the property.  The graffiti removal grant program is designed to help reduce the burden of the cost of this initial clean up and encourage property owners to take steps now to remove graffiti. This program will be in effect through the summer; however, all graffiti must be removed by September 15 to qualify for the grant reimbursement.

"Graffiti conveys an image of our community that we do not like," said Hickory Mayor Rudy Wright. "Residents and visitors make assumptions about communities that have graffiti and we are working to get rid of it and keep it out."

Hickory Police Department has sent letters to more than 30 property owners that have graffiti on their buildings.  Included in the letter is an explanation of the ordinance that goes in effect on October 1, as well as information about the graffiti removal grant program. 

"The City of Hickory's Graffiti Removal Program is an opportunity for the city to partner with property owners to improve the community," said Hickory Police Lt. Reed Baer.   "In many cases we have found that property owners do not live in the city and may not be aware of the graffiti on their property.  This may prevent them from seeing the impact it is having on their neighbors. "

"This program is a good way to bring this problem to their attention as well as to the attention of all citizens.  Although the police will continue to attempt to find those responsible for these criminal acts, it is through this program and the amendment to the nuisance ordinance that we hope to find a long term solution to graffiti in our community."  

Effective October 1, 2010, the City has passed a new regulation that makes having graffiti on your building a nuisance according to City Code. The Graffiti Ordinance categorizes graffiti as a nuisance, and requires that property owners remove the graffiti at their expense. Failure to remove the graffiti in a certain time period will trigger the City to remove it at the owners expense, including the potential for a lien on the property, according to Chapter 20 of the Hickory City Code.

For more information on this grant, go to www.hickorygov.com or contact the Hickory Police Department Code Enforcement Unit at 828-261-2649. We look forward to working with property owners to clean up Hickory.

###