LIVINGSTON PARISH - Residents in some Livingston Parish neighborhoods are looking for ways to spruce up blighted properties without reprecussions.

In the Robinwood subdivision, residents say overgrown grass and plants is a problem that has grown through the past five years.

"The fence is falling down," Johnawane Tarver, a 15-year resident of the neighborhood said regarding a nearby home. "Nothing is mowed."

That specific home is part of a bankrupcy proceeding. The neighborhood offered to clean up the property, but were told to stay away.

"There is a 'no trespassing' sign that says if we mow it, we could go to jail," Tarver said.

Some residents are calling on their parish council to take action.

"It's like we just don't have any other avenues to go down," resident Michelle Melancon said, "beside calling in the councils, but you just feel like you are getting pushed aside."

This time, Livingston Parish councilmembers say they have taken notice.

"I would hope the parish can take that property, turn it around, clean it up and sell it, and use that to clean up other blighted areas," Parish Councilman Maurice "Scooter" Keen suggested.

The Livingston Parish Council hopes to have a plan in place later this fall to use money from the sale of condemned properties to clean up blighted areas parish-wide.