Hi SchraderEnviro, Can't help myself on this one...your pic needs a caption, "Sorry you missed the party". ;).

Yes, very funny, but remains from this party have been sitting there outside for 6 months... and they are STILL there as of 9/12/14.

Just curious, is this someone's backyard?

This is someone's back yard. Sad part is that this house shares a driveway and backyard with another house. The picture does not even show the whole scope of the problem. There is also a huge broken branch that fell during the ice storm laying across the length of the
back yard. As of 9/16 this debris still sits as shown in the picture.

They are past their 7 days, so it is time to send a contractor to do the cleanup.

This is someone's back yard which shares a driveway with another house who are forced to look at this mess every day. There is also a large branch which broke off during the ice storm which runs the length of the back yard that needs to be removed.

Not sure if codes have changed since 6 years ago, but I remember being told by Code Com that backyards are off-limits to public viewing. Entering others backyards even as C.C.is trespassing. I'm all for assisting our service officers in Lansing as I can. If it is still considered bad form for them to enter a backyard with out an invite from the property owner/holder it seems best to let them use their productive time on bigger issues. Just sayin'...

If that is true, that backyards are off-limits then maybe someone from the City should let me know that. I own the house next door which shares the driveway with this mess, so the City could access it that way - if they asked. Am looking for some sort of comment from the City here.

Hi SE, Like I said, not sure if it's still the way the code is written...any chance you could talk to the neighbor about the broken down recliner chair, maybe a city sticker and pushing it curb side?
After too many experiences with my neighbors and their frivolous complaints (not saying yours is)I know first hand how often CC has to prioritize their time to get to each complaint. For example I used 4, 24" to 28" logs to frame a plant in my yard. Within days a neighbor who feels her decorating tastes are superior and should be imposed on all stopped by.She insisted the logs should be removed and given to her son-in-law to burn as he has a fire pit in his yard. I replied that I have 2 fire pits in my backyard that I could use the wood for if I didn't want it used as a planter. She next called CC to complain that I had "improperly stored" firewood on my property. The small limbs used as a planter on my lawn were basically none of her business but CC is required to respond in person to ALL calls. So, premium time was wasted by an officer who shook his head on seeing the planter and stated there are no codes concerning where one stores their firewood on their property. If I'd purchased landscaping 4X4's and done the same with them would that have been an issue for the neighbor?
The upside is, I've gained plenty of good info from CC staffers over the years. The 2-3 overly picky neighbors and their frequent complaints have actually provided me with my own personal horticulture staff! All kidding aside I advocate to let CC work smarter not harder. Their efforts utilize taxpayer dollars for the benefit of the city as a whole, not just one or two.
Now that the weather is cooling and plant growth slows the "grass and weeds over 8 inches" troopers will give CC a break before they start in on the cascade of complaints,"snow on side walk".
Weather forecasters are predicting another difficult winter for central MI. Hoping people will use some patience and common sense with their reporting...
SE, I hope you can work things out with your neighbor...maybe they'll decide to put the BBQ away for the winter?! ;)

Jan, the neighbor is a tenant who won't and can't do anything. The owner is a slumlord from East Lansing who only cares about the pocketbook and unfortunately that is the only way to solve this. You see the picture. Maybe there are some frivulous complaints, but this is not one of them. There is no "working it out" with the neighbor. I am trying to clean up this street near Old Town where I live and own several rental properties... I always provide pictures. I appreciate any help the City can give and if they can't help then I need to know. So far the City Code Compliance letters have been helpful. In this case - not so much. May need some enforcement.

SE, Hope it all works out well!

Still open. This still sits in backyard. Called Code Compliance twice. No resolution.

Finally got this cleaned up. Several calls to the City and I just happened to run into the inspector while he was there. Done.

Thanks for fixing this issue!