Rogers moves forward with clean-up liens on seven properties

The Rogers City Council is set to approve a series of clean-up liens on seven properties across the city after owners failed to address overgrown vegetation, debris, and other code violations, pushing the city to step in and recover costs through property tax liens.

The properties span multiple neighborhoods and include both residential parcels and a large multi-acre tract along South Dodson Road owned by limited liability companies. In each case, city officials say property owners were notified and given time to correct the issues before municipal crews completed the work and billed the costs back to the property.

Under Arkansas law, the city may place clean-up costs on the tax books as delinquent taxes when violations remain unresolved. The liens approved by council include charges for labor, equipment, certified mail notices, and filing fees, with an additional 10 percent added for collection.

Several of the liens exceed $1,500, with the largest totaling more than $3,000 for vegetation removal on a property along West Beech Drive. The South Dodson Road parcel — measuring more than eight acres — highlights that enforcement is not limited to single-family homes, but also applies to larger tracts and commercially held land.

City officials have not indicated a change in ordinance, but the volume of clean-up liens presented in a single meeting reflects a more active use of enforcement tools to address persistent property maintenance issues. The actions come as the city works to maintain neighborhood standards while balancing public safety, aesthetics, and cost recovery.

The clean-up liens are part of a broader City Council agenda that also includes final adjustments to the 2025 budget and formal adoption of the 2026 budget, marking a transition into the next fiscal year.