City junk ordinance

[shortcircuit]

A friend told me today that Blairsville's own mayor was served with legal papers for violating the city's new junk ordinance and now he's raising cane about it saying that certain people should have their junk "grandfathered in". Has anyone here heard about it? I don't know the mayor personally but I do know a member of the city council pretty well, I think I'll ask him and see what he says about it. I personally am for the ordinance as long as the city doesn't take it too far and I think that it should be enforced equally, even for the mayor himself. I know for a fact that two businesses in town that sell tires were served papers also because of having tires piled outside, one of those businessmen is our former commissioner. A candidate for mayor who was defeated has been told to clean up his mess as well. I have also seen a few unregistered cars sitting at the pawn shop and the big pile of construction equipment beside the bi-lo parking lot, if the city plans on equal enforcement they should go after those two as well. And for people like bluemoon who may accuse me of attacking the mayor; that's not my intention at all. It took guts for the city to pass an ordinance like that because I'm sure they all know that it will be challenged in court by people who think they don't have to follow the law.

[omikkron]

Very interesting. Norman wrote his story about it in a strange way, talking about the city council's meeting "with the mayor" and how Conley sees an issue brewing and such. That's really weird. Sounds like there is something going on there.

Omikkron

[bluemoon]

And for people like bluemoon who may accuse me of attacking the mayor

Thanks, shortcircuit, for thinking of me! Actually I am glad that you are looking at other officials besides the Commissioner. There are several others that need looking at. Spread the happiness around. ;D

[honeybee]

Who decides what is junk?
Is there a junk reference card?
If a building needs painting and the parking lot is cracked and has grass growing through it, should it be considered junk because it is unattractive?
Dumpsters sitting to the sides of businesses and in view of the street, would that be considered junk?
What if they clean up the junk, but the building still looks shabby, will they be forced to clean, repair and patch the buildings?
What if they have signs they have bulbs burned out or paint flaking from them?

Can we just have people move stuff from view but leave the overall view shabby and worn looking?

What do all of you think??

[manape]

Junk will be a sore spot for a while. It won't be easy for locals to change. For some, it is a business and they see the new laws as an infringement on their rights to use their own property as they please.

I don't think because a former Commissioner happens to own a tire shop that he is being pressured because he was a Commissioner or being trashed because he may run again. I went in his shop many times and I didn't know he was the former Commish until about a month ago. He seemed like an OK guy before and after I knew he was a Commish. Like Sometimeman says, we all need to "follow the law", if it is a fair law. The objective is to show the people who visit our area we want to make Beautiful Blairsville even more beautiful. Also, it doesn't hurt those who live here. I'm not for eliminating junk yards; I'm for low cost ways of hiding them from the public eye.

Change is never easy. The key is to managing change without going "Hog Wild." At lest junk doesn't smell. No reference to any hog politicians. You have to be politically correct on blairsvillecity.proboards104.com. Shame on you Bluemoon girl, you are making shortcircuit insecure. Shortcircuit don't get blue. Stop picking on him bluemoon...at least he does his homework and doesn't use the usual tater hater argument of "[Fill in the Blank] Lied." He could have called the mayor a "Junk Yard Junkie" but he didn't.

[manape]

Dancing Bee Girl (new avatar), I understand what you are saying: Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I gotta buzz...you put things in perspective.

[manape]

Does anyone know exactly what the NGN said about the Junk. I missed that article. I don't have time to look for a teaser on the NGN website. On my way to Murphyville, I couldn't help but notice how things looked when I crossed the North Carolina border. I'll do some checking and see how Cherokee is "doing junkin." Does junkin still come on TV? I seem to remember they had a show featuring Deckers flee market.

Dancing Bee, I agree some with you, and I think some junk is artistic and beeautiful. What is the world coming to? Does the junk ordinance mean I will have to get rid of that pink commode in my front yard and washing machine in front of my cave? Will the Junk Police give me a citation for that? I'm glad manape lives back in the sticks. When I get a "Round-Tu-It" I'm gonna move take that washing machine to the transfer station. I think of the pink commode as yard art and recycling. I'm not sure the Junk Police will agree.

Also, bee it was a good point about sprucing up the out buildings. The old outhouse needs a coat of paint anyway. Will I have to get a permit if I build a new one or do I need to get indoor pluming? They may not even allow outhouses anymore.

[honeybee]

They passed a city ordinance several years ago that outhouses were not "legal" in the City Limits anymore. Wonder how the construction port-a-johns fall under that category?

You know, I had no idea what they would take at the dump without charge. I will post a list below. I think that maybe if the county offered a "FREE DAY", people would probably take the garbage out of their yard and dump it at the station.

I know that new locals will make jokes about this, but I believe if people were made aware of what appliances the dump would take and there was "NO CHARGE" they would clean their yards and take them to the dump. That's probably why people dump their junk on road sides on less traveled roads. They are not going to pay any amount for someone to dump or take an old appliance.

Going to e-mail the commissioner now about that idea.

There is no charge for the following recyclables at the dump:
Glass Bottles Clear, green and brown
Paper Mixed, computer, magazines and newsprint
Paper Board Cereal boxes, food container, etc.
Cardboard Packing boxes (please break down)
Automotive Batteries
White Goods Appliances (excluding air conditioners and refrigerators)(Not available for commercial appliance dealers)

Bulk Metal Tin roofing, metal desks, cabinets, etc.

Let's Go Green Ya'll.

[manape]

Go gogo girl...I like that "Go Green" saying. Let's see...whose college football team is that? Have you forsaken the Way of the Orange? Go Orange, too!

If new locals make fun of our folk art, we can make fun of the pink flamingos and Gators, if they are from down south way. I'm not sure what kind of yard art Yankee locals bring, but we can make fun of them cause they talk funny and we have a bunch of northern football teams to pick on.

[shortcircuit]

Thanks bluemoon, that means alot to me coming from you! Honestly I try not to "attack" anybody because that usually does more harm than good. You are very correct in saying that there are other officials that need to be looked at. As most of you know I'm a pretty opinionated person when it comes to politics.

Manape, it wasn't my intention at all to make an incenuation (sp?) that Harold was targeted for his role in politics. I also agree with you about not eliminating junk yards, I used to spend alot of time at Junior Bracketts junk yard looking for cheap parts for my jalopy. I think bluemoon knows why I said what I did, it was about a reply that he/she directed toward me in another post. You sir are right, change is never easy. And I think our officials (even Lamar) are doing a good job of gradually bringing in the needed changes instead of dumping them in our laps all at once.

Honeybee, you make an excellent point. I am a big supporter of property owners rights so that's why I only support a limited junk ordinance that will be equally enforced among businesses and residents. If someone has an old car or two sitting in the yard without tires and wheels that they want to restore when they have the money or if their front porch furniture is their old living room furniture then that's their business, not the governments. No one should tell us what color to paint our houses and how often we need to mow our grass. But if someone makes a huge mess to the point that it degrades the property values of neighbors or it poses a danger to the publics safety then it's time for some cleaning up. Your idea of a "free day" sounds great, it would be a great thing if some local churches and civic groups got together and helped people who aren't able to take their junk to the dump.

[honeybee]

Got a very good and informative reply from the Commish.
However, it is on my e-mail at work and I am at home. Will post it tomorrow.

From memory I know that he Say's he offers the phone number on brochures and at his office of a guy that will take junk cars for free.

The old tire day was too big of a success, they had 7 trailer loads of tires and hope the grant will ex end to cover the additional over what they had anticipated.

Can't have a free garbage bag day, because the county has to pay the main garbage people to handle it. Maybe we can work something out with them.

Again I will post it tomorrow.

Maybe we should get a couple of ideas together to assist. I know if someone offered to get junk out of my yard for free, I would be crazy not to take advantage of it.

As for the car, if they are going to be restored, good, but move them out of road view way. Maybe cover them up or put them behind the house. My ex-husband and his brothers had several collectible cars junked at their mom's house for years and finally decided they could go. He had restored an old 63 1/2 Starliner(?) Ford. He actually located a guy who had worked for Ford and had original parts for the motor.

I have 3 metal chamber pot's in my front yard. One is a water pot for the dogs, the other is for my husband's cigarette butt's, (he can't smoke in the house), one has flowers planted in it. So is it junk or creative thinking?

Yankees have very large motor homes as yard art and real estate signs after 5 months of living here.

OMG! IS EVERYONE ON THIS TOPIC AGREEING??

See there is hope for us.

Go Green and Go VOLS!

[manape]

Shortcircuit. Yes, the good old days of roaming in Junior's Junk Yard. I miss them too!

Shortcircuit, that's a good idea about getting the Christian Community involved in junk cleanup, especially for the elderly. Does anyone know someone with a need?

I just brought the former Commish thing up just in case someone wanted to run with it. You know me, I usually try to make a mole hill out of a mountain.

[manape]

HB. I like your chamber pot idea. What kind of flowers do you have in it? Petunias?

If you paint some chickens on the chamber pots, you could advertise as high priced folk art along with you windows and sell them to the tourist. I'm not sure you could keep up with the demand though. Chamber pots are hard to find anymore. Perhaps you could really jack the price up by selling them on eBay.

I never thought about the for sale signs in the Yankee's yards after 5 months. The ones I know buy a house in FL for the winter and move back here in the summer time.

It is strange to agree on something. I hope no one makes a video saying, "I don't want my yard cars removed from my front yard, because it would make my taxes go up." I guess talking junk about a politician is more civil than talking trash about a politician.

[honeybee]

If someone can locate a group or organize a group to help out, count me in, I even have a long bed pickup that I will volunteer to haul stuff.

We could plan one Saturday a month (until football season ) or another day, 1 day a month and help some elderly person out.

Am I the only one feeling warm and fuzzy?

[kopycat]

HB. I'm in. We don't need permission from any congregation. The church is right here. Some of the people who need and want help may not want their info (name, address, etc.) posted on a board.

I'm thinking about setting up a website with an email address contacts (or google blog spot) with information on church groups, cell groups, or minichurches (churches in the big church house) to contact. I'll set up a pilot test site and PM you a link.

What a concept, actually doing something in the community, instead of just complaining. Do you think it will actually work? I'm feeling warm and fuzzy too.