ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, May 18, 1996 TAG: 9605200023
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: PULASKI
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
Pulaski citizens with cans, bottles, tires, paper and other litter on their property may soon have less time to clean it up after being cited by the town.
They also may have less leeway on how high weeds can grow on their property before the town cuts them and charges the owner.
Pulaski's ordinance committee will recommend to Town Council next month that the waiting period for cleaning up litter after being cited be reduced from 14 days to seven days, and the weed limit from no more than 18 inches to no more than 12 inches.
It is part of an ongoing effort by town officials to improve the looks and image of the community.
The town staff has made an inventory of dilapidated buildings, complete with photographs, that need to be torn down. Demolition is costly, but some money will be budgeted to get rid of some unsightly structures and owners, when they can be found, will be encouraged to do the tearing down themselves.
The ordinance committee also will recommend that Town Attorney Frank Terwilliger see if the town can legally limit residents to having only one abandoned or junked vehicle on their property, and locating it so it would not be visible from a major street.
Police Chief Herb Cooley has said his department will be cross trained so officers can cite violations of nuisance abatement ordinances when time from their other duties allow. The department will try to cross train other town enforcement personnel as well, providing more eyes and ears to look for violations along with town engineering personnel and the fire marshal.
The committee also will recommend that council consider an ordinance imposing charges on locations to which the Pulaski Fire Department responds to more than two false alarms a year.
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