Document text
36 °F Forecast | Road Cams Tuesday, March 15, 2005 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Health Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Real Estate Guide Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley SHOP OUR VALLEY AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Classified Place an ad TOP JOBS EXTRA Ashland News NIE Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People Volunteer Moving here? eSouthernOregon CUSTOMER SERVICE FAQ's Advertise with us Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend March 1, 2005 Charles Longan, 79, sees some value in most of the cars and other pieces of metal stored on his 3.6 acres in White City but hopes to clean up his property. Mail Tribune / Bob Pennell Scrappy about scrap With acres of castoffs adding up, Jackson County says it soon won’t wait for complaints before it issues code-violation citations By DAMIAN MANN Mail Tribune Every old car and practically every scrap of metal strewn about Charles Longan’s property has a history behind it. "That bicycle over there is a collector’s item," he said. Still, the 79-year-old White City man, who has lived in the area since 1952, admits that most of it is junk. "What I want is nothing but green grass out here," says Longan, pointing to his 3.6 acres covered with dozens of old cars, refrigerators, mobile homes and other metal brought there by relatives, friends and himself. Longan and other residents may soon find Jackson County on their doorstep telling them enough is enough. Advertisement By the end of March, county officials will begin targeting property owners they see violating code regulations rather than waiting for a neighbor’s complaint as they have done in the past. "If we see a problem now we’re going to start pursuing it," said county attorney Doug McGeary. Inspectors, who routinely crisscross the county, will potentially cite egregious violators as part of their normal course of business. The change in policy was prompted by county commissioners, who discovered that staff had previously decided there weren’t enough resources to spend the time looking into obvious problems. "There was a perception among staff that we wouldn’t respond to violations if there weren’t any complaints from neighbors," said county Commissioner C.W. Smith. As part of their job description, inspectors should have the ability to look into flagrant code violations, he said. "We need to be consistent," said Smith. "We can’t ignore things that get out of hand that require an act of God to get it cleared up." Mike Kuntz, county code enforcement manager, said that with no extra staff, it will be difficult pursuing more violators in addition to the 100 complaints a month received from neighbors. He said the county will prioritize a list of the worst complaints. If someone has one junk vehicle on a property, it won’t get the same attention as, say, 100 vehicles. "A minor livestock violation or a minor solid waste violation is not something we’re going after," he said. In the past, inspectors did report septic systems that were noticeably failing. Kuntz anticipates the county will begin warning property owners about problems around the end of March. "We will do a warning first, then move to a citation when that has proved non-productive," he said. McGeary said that fines for code violations in the past have ranged from $1,000 to $10,000, depending on the time spent investigating. Not all code violations have been successfully pursued, he said, citing one instance in which a Table Rock Road property had dozens of junk cars but a judge ultimately ruled that the owner had the right to keep the vehicles. "One man’s solid waste is another man’s treasure," said McGeary. Commissioner Jack Walker said pursuing this policy doesn’t mean county officials will devote any special time or effort looking for violations. "This board has instructed them (inspectors) not to cruise looking for code violations," he said. "We have said there has to be an obvious violation that he has seen in the process of doing the rest of his duties." Meanwhile, Longan plans to get rid of the junk on his property and has already removed 300 cars after getting cited by the county in 2001, he said. He also agrees the county should clamp down on violators. "If it’s just a bunch of junk, they should get rid of it," said Longan. But surveying some of his favorite cars, he asks, "Do I have to get rid of my Packards?" Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail [email protected] Violations most likely to be given citations Illegal structures or dwellings. Solid waste such as abandoned or inoperable vehicles, sewage, garbage, industrial waste, demolition or construction waste, infectious waste, abandoned appliances, manure, dead animals or other hazardous materials. Condition of unsightliness that can be viewed from a public road or a private property. Farm animals where zoning doesn’t allow them. Any other use not permitted by county regulations. Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback Student Loan Consolidation Conference Calls - $50/Month Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker, Trunk, Footlockers home equity loans helzberg Slippers Student Loans afsa teleconferencing Memory Foam Mattress Advertisement s