Seventy-seven percent of those responding to a poll on thesalemnewsonline.com say they would support a ballot measure that would address nuisance properties in Dent County.
Dent County Prosecuting Attorney Andrew Curley is considering writing ballot language on such an ordinance and would then submit it to county commissioners for possible placement on a future ballot.
The poll question read: Should Dent County place an issue on a future ballot that would create an ordinance to address nuisance properties in Dent County?
When the poll ended Monday morning, those voting yes totaled 453, or 77 percent, while 135 people voted no, which is 23 percent. The poll is not scientific and is merely a way to measure interest in topics that impact the community, according to Donald Dodd, publisher of The Salem News.
“That (results of poll) tells me that the next step would be to draft a proposed ordinance for the ballot measure,” Curley said Monday.
“We wanted a test to see how the public felt about it, and the response shows me there is some public support. Now we will go back and forth and finalize something commissioners would approve and that can be put on the ballot.”
Curley added that the process will be “transparent and fair, so all interested persons can give input,” and that the process will take months before it could be on a ballot, so the public will have ample time to give support or opposition to the idea, ultimately voting to “determine its fate.”
Dent County’s prosecuting attorney in a story in The Salem News April 17 said he wanted help from commissioners and the public to cut down on makeshift junkyards and unsightly nuisance properties within the county’s jurisdiction. He said the goal of the effort is to help bolster the local real estate market and tourism economy.
Curley requested “The Salem News to poll the people so we can better serve their interest on this subject,” he said. “I know the issue may be controversial, so let's obtain as much input as we can from the public to see if it has support.”
Curley said the idea was “not looking to create anything that’s overreaching. We’ll carefully balance the individual liberty of property ownership with the general welfare of the public. Where that line is will be carefully pinpointed and will have to be approved by commissioners and the voters. If the majority of the voters are not comfortable with the language of the ordinance, then it will fail, which is ok.”
You can see the full story in the April 17 edition of The Salem News and at thesalemnewsonline.com.
Among the comments about the issue posted on The Salem News’ Facebook page:
Dallas Southards: Yes, but I would like to see rules written out for the people to read before it was voted on.
Debbie Hobson Elliott: No. Our law enforcement and legal system is already working around the clock to battle drug/theft issues in the county. Helping a family or child stay safe or to get back on the right path is much more important.
Laura Acord: Yes. They can still have their junk, trash, whatever, but will have to put up fences so we all don’t have to see it. Good idea. I’m all for it.
Mike McPherson: No. If you want your neighbors’ yards to look perfect go live in a subdivision with an active HOA. That way someone else can tell you when to mow the lawn and what decorations you’re allowed to have for each holiday. This is just another overreach of government. Who are we to say what is acceptable on a person’s property that they pay for?
Janie Jadwin: Yes. It’s a shame some of our citizens don’t have enough common sense and pride to keep their property from being an eyesore to the community and their neighbors. One bad property can keep a person from selling their property if they need to.
Rodney Thompson: No. People do not buy property so they can be told what to do with it. It is bought so they can have their own place to do as they please. If the people who said yes to this want to start making my mortgage payments, I’ll keep my yard however you like. If not I'd say you keep your yard how you like, and I'll keep mine how I like. There are also people making a living off of what you see as junk. Money that they make off of the so-called junk might just be what keeps them from living off of our tax dollars. . .
Amber Kettelhake: Yes. The point is to help our community!! If a person wants to have trash all over their yard ok, but they should have to keep it to themselves and put a privacy fence up to ensure everyone else doesn’t have to see it.
Ken Brasier: No. It is a shame that people don't show pride in their property, or for one reason or another they are unable to maintain it. But, we don’t need more laws taking our rights away.
