ABERDEEN - City officials have sent more than two dozen bills to Aberdeen residents whose lawns or lots haven't been mowed for a while.

In Aberdeen, it's illegal for grass or noxious weeds to be taller than 10 inches.

Mike Olson, the city's code enforcement officer, said long grass is good habitat for mosquitoes - and Brown County has had more than its share of West Nile virus cases. Also, long grass and weeds are simply unsightly, he said.

Notices are sent, and if the lawn or lot isn't mowed within the specified time, mowing crews are sent in and landowners get the bill. Unpaid bills are added to the property taxes.

Some neighbors get so frustrated that they end up mowing the lawns themselves "because they're sick of looking at it or dealing with mosquitoes," Olson said.

About three-fourths of the calls come from neighbor complaints, Olson said.

He said he's heard several arguments for keeping grass long, including letting new grass develop and growing herbs for medicinal purposes.

In the case of one woman with the herbs, "we let her have a small lot where she could plant (the herbs)," Olson said. "A very small lot."