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Rocks and dead grass part of legal battle with city over mowing boulevard

Green, lush grass is a staple in the south Winnipeg neighbourhood of Island Lakes, just don’t look at Richard Hykawy’s yard and nearby boulevard.

The homeowner is again headed to court because he refuses to cut the grass on the city-owned boulevard next to his house, at the corner of Henry Dormer Drive and Island Lakes Boulevard.

“It’s forced labour,” he said.

Neighbours tell Global News the grass on the boulevard died earlier this week. Hykawy said he doesn’t know how that happened. The grass on all the other nearby boulevards is green and healthy.

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He has also covered all his own yard with rocks because he claims he can’t grow grass, and no longer owns a lawn mower.

Hykawy plans to represent himself in court Friday.

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The maximum fine a judge can impose is $1,000.

City homeowners have been required by law to cut the grass on boulevards next to their properties since 1992.

The city says it will first warn people to cut the grass. If they don’t they face an administrative charge of $107 flat fee plus $77 per hour for work billed by Public Works, for any remedial action that is taken to bring the property into compliance.

The grass on the boulevard near Hykawy’s property on Island Shore Boulevard is dead. June 5, 2013. Tamara Forlanski

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