IVA — Iva town officials acted on an ordinance Monday that would make it tough on those who aren’t mowing their grass or maintaining their property.

In a 4-to-1 vote, the Iva Town Council approved an ordinance that would put more teeth in the town’s nuisance laws, making fines mandatory if someone is not cutting his grass or maintaining their property — keeping it free of things such as junk cars and old appliances.

“This was needed,” Iva’s Mayor Bobby Gentry said. “There was never a fine amount in there.”

As the new ordinance is written, if someone is in violation of the town’s nuisance law, he will be fined if it is not cleaned up in 15 days. The maximum fine that could be issued would be $500, according to the proposal.

Currently, there is no fine required if a property is not cleaned up; also, there is no time limit on how long a property owner has to clean up the property, Town Clerk Tim Taylor said.

Iber Neal Sutherland was the only council member to oppose the ordinance on its first reading. He said it would be better to talk to residents and negotiate with them to get them to clean up their property. The ordinance must be approved in one more reading in order for it to become law.

“If they don’t have the money to pay the fine, then what are you going to do?” Sutherland said. “If you take the property, then pretty soon you’ll own the whole town of Iva.”

Mayor Gentry said the town’s police officers already talk with property owners about cleaning up their land when a complaint is called in. But now, they will also have the ability to issue a fine if it is not cleaned up within 15 days.

“Anyone can clean up their property in 15 days,” the mayor said.

Also in council business Monday, the council approved in a 5-0 vote to give $500 to the Flat Rock Elementary School so the school’s staff can purchase books for the library.