The Jefferson County Board of Health is developing an ordinance that would crack down on properties that illegally stockpile garbage or have ongoing septic violations.
A so-called “nuisance abatement” measure under consideration would introduce property owners to fines and appearances before a judge if junked properties aren’t cleaned up.
The ordinance, being drafted by the Department of Environmental Health, would target offenders who repeatedly collect mounds of garbage on their property or dispose of human waste improperly, among other issues.
Currently, the county only mails out notices to alleged offenders. Some don’t pay heed.
“It was triggered by the board’s concerns about long-term problems,” said Larry Fay, Jefferson County environmental health director.
“Basically, this will get people in front of a judge.
“It shows them we’re willing to go the whole nine yards.”
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The rest of this story appears in the Friday/Saturday Peninsula Daily News Jefferson County edition. Click on “Subscribe” to get the PDN delivered to your home or office.