Residents charged for mowing waterfront

COLUMBUS, Ohio, June 21 (UPI) -- An Ohio city is charging three residents for mowing, weeding or otherwise tending grass in city-owned waterfront property adjoining their yards.

Columbus city officials said they have filed criminal charges against three residents, one for each of the city's three reservoirs, as a "last resort" to stop residents from trying to maintain the properties, The Columbus Dispatch reported Thursday.

Officials said the properties are managed by the city's Watershed Management Program and the land needs to be kept natural to filter runoff water before it makes its way into the reservoirs, which are used for drinking water.

"The bottom line for us is we have to protect our drinking-water supply," said Greg Davies, public-utilities director for Columbus.

The charges brought against the residents include criminal damaging, destruction or alteration of property and criminal trespassing.