Commission looking at junk ordinance

TUSCUMBIA -- Colbert County commissioners agreed Tuesday that accumulations of junk will be the first issue addressed by a new self-governance ordinance.

The ordinance gives the county government the authority to abate nuisances such as unsanitary sewage, noise, litter, rubbish, pollution, overgrown weeds, junkyards and animals.

County voters approved the measure in November by a 2,739 to 1,706 margin.

Commission Chairman Rex Burleson told commissioners during a Tuesday work session that they should work on getting one ordinance in place before moving on to the next one.

He provided commissioners with a copy of a junk ordinance adopted by Marshall County.

The ordinance addresses accumulations of items such as batteries, paper trash, scrap metals, dismantled or wrecked vehicles, rubber debris, rags and rope.

It also provides fines for violations and procedures to appeal the charges to the commission and ultimately to the court system.

Commissioners will review the Marshall County ordinance and make changes they deem necessary.

Once the ordinance is in its finished form, it will be published in a local newspaper.

A hearing will also take place to allow the public to ask questions.

Commissioner Howard Keeton said people in his district have already complained about property owners who have allowed junk to accumulate.

"What we do won't be 100 percent favorable to all people," Burleson said.

He said the majority of the people in the county want a means to control problems like junk, weeds, animals and noise.

Commissioner Emmitt Jimmar suggested a public hearing to determine what issues the public would like to see addressed first.

Burleson said he would like to see the first ordinance in place by March 1.

Russ Corey can be reached at 740-5738 or russ.corey@timesdaily.com.