Contractor Says City Didn't Pay Him For Weed Work

INDIANAPOLIS -- When Indianapolis stepped up efforts to curb unruly weeds this summer, it hired more than two dozen contractors, but at least one man said he hasn't been paid.

Robert Hearst is one of 25 vendors hired by the city's Office of Code Enforcement to cut a record number of overgrown lots, Call 6's Rafael Sanchez reported.

Hearst said he has been paid for 21 jobs, but is still waiting on checks for 36 other properties.

"I have a mortgage I have to pay. If I don't get my money, I can't go to those individuals at the city and tell them I'm going to sleep with you until you pay me," he said.

Code Enforcement Director Rick Powers told Sanchez that the city dealt with a record 9,075 overgrown properties this year, compared to 2,144 in 2008.

He said his office had to request an additional $600,000 in tax dollars to pay vendors, but that contractors were paid within the 60-day time frame outlined in their contracts.

"With few exceptions, we are within provisions of our contract for all vendors," Powers said. "I feel very proud of what the city and vendors have partnered to do. It's unbelievable the amount of grass cut this year."

He said that Hearst will get paid on three invoices by next week, and two others are being processed.

The city plans to recover the money needed for cleaning up those properties by charging the homeowners, placing liens on tax bills or going to court and getting an order forcing payment.