US City Wants Woman to Clean up Rock Art
2023-12-03
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1Iris Logan was having a hard time growing grass at her home in St. Paul, Minnesota.
2So, she covered the space with stones, statues, and other art.
3More than 30 years later, it is something of a local landmark.
4But to a city inspector, it is a problem.
5Logan, who is 70, has been told to clean up the different objects, like wood and large rocks, noted after a recent inspection, the St. Paul Pioneer Press, a local newspaper reported.
6The City Council will look at the issue on December 6.
7Logan said the city's actions forced her to create the art in the first place.
8She said city workers who were fixing the road dug so deep around one of her trees that its roots were open to the air.
9So, she brought in dirt, planted flowers, and added stones - and just kept adding.
10Logan said that if she likes a rock, she will try to bring it home.
11"I'm a rock lover," the former farmer from Mississippi added.
12Logan recently received written notice that a city official will suggest to the City Council that she be given until December 22 to clean things up.
13She wrote six pages of note by hand to appeal the order.
14The stones do not enter the street or block city vehicles, Logan wrote to answer one of the inspector's concerns.
15"I just want to make a stand for the next person," Logan said.
16Casey Rodriguez is a spokeswoman for the St. Paul Department of Safety and Inspections.
17She said about 16 other properties on the same street also received letters advising them to remove objects blocking the street to agree with city laws.
18She said in an email to the Pioneer Press that large roads, called boulevards, should be clear of objects that can block access to power and water lines.
19She added that it also keeps the tree roots clear and provides a place for snow in the winter.
20Justin Lewandowski is a community organizer who lives near Logan.
21He said that 150 people signed their support on a petition "in just a few hours."
22He is hopeful that the city will soon clear up their rules.
23"The quick support from our neighbors has been a clear signal of how much this art means to our community," Lewandowski said.
24He said it is not just about how it looks; it is about their identity and how they work with each other and with city policy.
25I'm Gregory Stachel.
1Iris Logan was having a hard time growing grass at her home in St. Paul, Minnesota. So, she covered the space with stones, statues, and other art. 2More than 30 years later, it is something of a local landmark. But to a city inspector, it is a problem. 3Logan, who is 70, has been told to clean up the different objects, like wood and large rocks, noted after a recent inspection, the St. Paul Pioneer Press, a local newspaper reported. The City Council will look at the issue on December 6. 4Logan said the city's actions forced her to create the art in the first place. She said city workers who were fixing the road dug so deep around one of her trees that its roots were open to the air. So, she brought in dirt, planted flowers, and added stones - and just kept adding. 5Logan said that if she likes a rock, she will try to bring it home. "I'm a rock lover," the former farmer from Mississippi added. 6Logan recently received written notice that a city official will suggest to the City Council that she be given until December 22 to clean things up. She wrote six pages of note by hand to appeal the order. The stones do not enter the street or block city vehicles, Logan wrote to answer one of the inspector's concerns. 7"I just want to make a stand for the next person," Logan said. 8Casey Rodriguez is a spokeswoman for the St. Paul Department of Safety and Inspections. She said about 16 other properties on the same street also received letters advising them to remove objects blocking the street to agree with city laws. 9She said in an email to the Pioneer Press that large roads, called boulevards, should be clear of objects that can block access to power and water lines. She added that it also keeps the tree roots clear and provides a place for snow in the winter. 10Justin Lewandowski is a community organizer who lives near Logan. He said that 150 people signed their support on a petition "in just a few hours." He is hopeful that the city will soon clear up their rules. 11"The quick support from our neighbors has been a clear signal of how much this art means to our community," Lewandowski said. He said it is not just about how it looks; it is about their identity and how they work with each other and with city policy. 12I'm Gregory Stachel. 13The Associated Press reported this story. Gregory Stachel adapted it for VOA Learning English. 14__________________________________________________ 15Words in This Story 16landmark - n. an object or structure on land that is easy to see and recognize 17notice - n. information that tells you or warns you about something that is going to happen 18access - n. a way of getting near, at, or to something or someone 19petition - n. a written document that people sign to show that they want a person or organization to do or change something