Published: June 22, 2009 09:27 pm      

County moves to clean up dilapidated properties

POPLARVILLE — In their continuing efforts to clean up Pearl River County, the Board of Supervisors declared four pieces of properties public nuisances Monday after efforts to motivate the owners to clean them up failed. Only the property owners for two of the properties appeared before the board during the public hearing held yesterday.  

The estate executor for the property owned by the late George Brooks, at 7214 U.S. Highway 11 and formerly known as the Cubbyhole Grocery and Donald Caves of 104 Lee Street, Carriere, appeared before the board to ask for an additional 30 days to finish cleaning up their properties.

Cave told supervisors that he had met with a series of unfortunate and expensive events which have delayed the process, but that he was intent on finishing the cleanup. First, the truck he had been using had had mechanical problems that were expensive and difficult to fix. Cave said that he anticipated it would be running soon.

That did not impress Director of Planning & Development Ed Pinero, who told board members that the property had actually gotten in worse disrepair since the notifications had been sent, noting that the grass was now overrunning the property. “It has gone the other way,” said Pinero, showing board members pictures of when the notifications were initially sent and as recent as last Friday.

Cave said he had an explanation for that as well.

He said the overgrown grass was also the result of equipment failure and that issue would be remedied this week. “The lawnmower locked up,” said Cave. “But that will be fixed today.”

Asking for an additional 30 days to complete the clean up process, Cave said he would assure the board the condition of the property would definitely improve.

As for the former Cubbyhole store, Pinero said that as a salvage yard, all the owner had to do was move the vehicles presently outside of the fence to inside of it. Pinero had inspected the fencing and it was intact.

The representative for the property said that they were in the process of doing just that, and also asked for 30 days to finish the process.

“What I recommend is that we declare the properties a public nuisance and then I can re-inspect it in 30 days,” said Pinero, pointing out that if they did not follow that process, another public hearing would have to be set, advertised, and held.

District 5 supervisor Sandy Smith and District 3 supervisor Hudson Holliday each told the property owners that the board was willing to work with property owners, but that they had to show a real effort to complete the work. “The work has to be done,” said Smith.

Holliday, pointing to the “after” picture, asked Cave if he really thought the condition of his property was acceptable. “No sir, I do not,” replied Cave.

The board agreed with Pinero and declared the two properties public nuisances, but gave the property owners the additional 30 days. Pinero will follow the process of the cleanup after 30 days. If it is determined the owners are not making an effort to clean the properties, the county can clean it and charge the owner the cost of the clean up.

As for the property at 882 Anchor Lake Road, Carriere, owned by Will B. Wheat of Alabama, Pinero said that as of Monday, his office had not heard from Wheat. “I ask that it is declared a public nuisance so we can begin enforcement proceedings,” said Pinero.

The board agreed. The county will begin the clean up process and will place a tax lien on the property for the cost of the clean up.

Pinero said that the owner of the 81 King Road property was working to demolish the dilapidated building and cleanup the property, but that “he’s doing it all by himself.”

“The fellow is working with us in good faith,” said Pinero, once again asking for the property to be declared a nuisance so that he could follow its progress. Once again the board agreed.

The fifth property, at 661 Liberty Road, Picayune, was removed from the hearing.

In other business, the board considered a request from the Mill Creek Neighborhood Watch Committee to purchase one and a half acres with a former restaurant for a community center, polling place, possible firehouse and meeting room.

Pointing out that they had researched grants for the purchase, the group said they believe the $80,000 asking price was a steal. “If I had the money, I’d buy it myself,” said one woman.

Director of Emergency Management Danny Manley said that he was aware of the property and believes a fire station in that area was “a fantastic place” to put one, but that trying to secure a grant for the purchase of property which has a structure on it could be difficult.

The group assured the board their research had shown that they may be able to secure the grant, but that they would need the board’s approval to move forward.

“We don’t have $80,000 lying around, but if you can come up with the grants and numbers, we will do what we can,” said board president, Anthony Hales.

Holliday suggested that county Tax Assessor Gary Beach appraise the property so that if the group found the money for the purchase, the county was ready on their end.

Pinero reminded the board and the group that just purchasing the building was the tip of the iceberg. “There needs to be a real commitment from them to maintain the utilities and maintenance,” said Pinero.

The group assured the board that they were well aware and ready to give such a commitment.

All the board members agreed to support the group’s efforts to find grant money to purchase the property.

Other business included:

— S. Stringham of Springhill Road appeared for the second time concerning problems with tree and road debris clogging a nearby creek, which is shared with a neighboring property, and is causing flooding in his backyard. Stringham has asked the board to take action to clear out the debris even though the county engineer has determined that it is on private property and is a neighbor versus neighbor issue.

Board members reiterated that unless it could be shown that the problem was caused by the county, their hands were tied.

— Approved private road names of Fish Farm Lane and Emma Lane.

— Accepted final plat plans for Wolf Ridge subdivision, with a total of 31 lots all on county roads. Right of way easements have been deeded to the county to ensure speedy access in the event any public utilities need repair or installation.

— Reappointed Mike Morrison to the Mississippi Regional Housing Authority Board of Commissions.

— Heard a report on the progress of the new county administrative building on Goodyear Boulevard and were informed that despite a slow start due to rain and paperwork, the project was on time for a projected completion date of April, 2010.

— Hales brought up the number of complaints he had received over the county’s new time clock system that requires employees to clock in using fingerprints. Noting that he had heard “a lot of chatter” about the time clocks, and rumblings that “there may be some sabotage” of them, Hales said that anyone caught trying to circumvent the clocks or damage them would be immediately fired.

The next board meeting is Tuesday, July 7, at 9 am in the boardroom of the old courthouse on Julia Street, Poplarville.