ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, May 1, 1996 TAG: 9605010039
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-9 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: PULASKI
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
Some Pulaski officials want to get as tough as the law allows on people who are trashing the town.
A town committee will recommend several ways to strengthen its nuisance abatement ordinance, after running them by Town Attorney Frank Terwilliger to make sure they are legal.
"I think it's a very important thing, pride in the town," Chairwoman Bettye Steger said at Tuesday's committee meeting. Litter and eyesores like dilapidated housing, ill-kept lots and junked cars detract from that pride.
Some recommendations considered by the committee include:
Reducing the time allowed to get rid of such debris as cans, bottles, tires and paper from 14 days to seven days, unless it is trash gathered for disposal that the Public Service Authority has not yet picked up.
Reducing the maximum height of weeds or grass from 18 inches to 12 inches before the town mows it, charging the property owner the costs of the work plus 25 percent for administration. "That's not nearly enough," Councilman Roy D'Ardenne said of the administrative charges, and suggested raising those as an incentive for people to keep their lots cut.
Issuing report forms to police and other town officials to list abandoned or dilapidated buildings that are eyesores or potentially dangerous, and need to be demolished. The town would contact the owner to have the job done where possible, rather than having the town do it.
Town police already have removed more than 100 abandoned vehicles, but the existing ordinance can be strengthened to limit the number of inoperable vehicles on one person's property. D'Ardenne asked that Terwilliger see if people can be required to keep junked cars as far as possible from the fronts of homes and lots.
Another change being considered is training town police to cite nuisance abatement violations when time permits. That is currently done by the town's engineering department. Since Pulaski has more police officers than engineers, the additional citations would step up the removal of eyesores.
Mayor Andy Graham suggested banning signs in residential neighborhoods that advertise offices, beauty salons and other enterprises. The current ordinance limits the size of such signs to 2 square feet.
"At least we have begun. It's going to take a while," Steger said.
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