Sunbury officials have been using a part-time worker to mow the lawn at condemned properties.

They deserve kudos for addressing the problem of unsightly properties, but why stop at condemned properties?

An uninvolved owner is one of many reasons a yard might become overgrown and unsightly. Some property owners have different opinions about how well-maintained a yard should be. Elderly or ill property owners may have difficulty keeping up with the yard work. Whatever the reason, some yards become neglected. A neighborhood benefits when all properties have curb appeal.

City officials should explore the possibility of setting a clear standard for lawns and use municipal workers to maintain all properties that do not pass muster.

The idea is not completely foreign. Many municipalities use a similar approach to force sidewalk repairs.

After an inspection, property owners receive a notice that sidewalks must be replaced. If the property owner does not react, the municipality does the work and sends a bill.

In the short-term, the move would provide revenue -- something Sunbury officials will appreciate considering their ill-conceived plan to levy a $100 fee on licensed professionals working in the city.

The landscaping fee could be waived if the property owner is enduring financial hardship. The ultimate aim would be to encourage property owners to do the work rather than create a residential landscaping department within the Department of Public Works.

Sunbury leaders seem serious about tackling the problems facing the city.

Such a bold step would jump-start the effort and demonstrate that all property owners have an obligation to participate in Sunbury's revival.