Coal Grove officials are sending a clear message: The village isn’t operating a free lawn service.

The council voted last week to amend its laws in regards to lawns that haven’t been cut or are filled with trash. Now, property owners are notified of the problem, but if village employees have to clean it up, the homeowner is charged $200 that will added to their property taxes.

The village could also hand out an additional $200 fine.

Although this isn’t a perfect solution, it is certainly a step in the right direction toward ensuring that Lawrence County’s communities are clean, safe and appealing.

Hopefully other villages will follow suit and look at their ordinances.

The two key components to addressing this problem across the entire county is making sure adequate laws are in place and then ensuring that the proper steps are being taken to enforce those laws.

Most Lawrence County homeowners take pride in their property and deserve to know that potential deadbeat neighbors cannot just allow their property to deteriorate right next door.

Having strict laws in place — and having penalties that are actually firm enough to discourage someone from breaking those laws — will encourage residents to do their part to keep our communities looking great.