Dave Lindo, Gleaner Writer

The Manchester Parish Council on Friday started serving notices on owners of overgrown properties that refuse to clean and maintain them.

Since last month, the council has decided to enforced the Town Nuisance Prevention Act (1887) against the perpetrators as, Mayor Brenda Ramsay disclosed, these properties have become havens for criminals.

"We have identified six lots and we have passed the resolution to move, that notices be placed on these properties," Christopher Powell, secretary/manager disclosed, while speaking at the council's monthly meeting on Friday.

Acting Superintendent of Road and Works, Doyen Johnson, is finalising preparation of notices and the perpetrators will be serve later this week.

Property tax delinquent

Deputy Mayor Ervin Facey, who represented Ramsay in her absence at the meeting, said the law will apply in the town limits of Mandeville, within a five mile radius of the courthouse.

Meanwhile, with the recent findings that the parish of Manchester was the second-largest delinquent to collect property tax, the parish council has been given a target for the new financial year.

According to Powell, the council, along with the Inland Revenue have been mandated to collect $922 million in property tax, in the new financial year. Powell stressed that the new measures have been taken to bring in more revenues from property tax.

"Proposal are being prepared to send to cabinet to tie in everything to persons, property taxes. For example, if you want to renew licences or passports, when you go to these offices it will pop up so you can't get a renewal, without paying your outstanding property taxes," he reasoned.