KINGWOOD — A proposed ordinance from the cleanup committee will be presented at the next meeting of the Preston County Commission.
The ordinance addresses dilapidated buildings, property clean-up, and open dumps. If passed, under the ordinance the commission will designate an enforcement agency that will consist of a county engineer or other technically qualified county employee or consultant; a county health officer or his or her designee; a fire chief from a Preston County fire company; a county litter control officer; two members-at-large selected by the commission to serve two-year terms; and the county sheriff, who will serve as an ex-officio member of the enforcement agency, and who will enforce the orders of the commission.
The county litter officer (currently Jay Sowers) will be authorized to issue citations for open dumps, unlawful disposal of litter, and failure to provide proof of proper disposal of solid waste. In order to issue a citation, the property in question must pose a threat to health and/or public safety.
If a complaint is made, it will be brought before the county commission. Once the agency investigates and determines that a dwelling, building, accumulation of refuse or debris, overgrown vegetation, or toxic spillage or toxic seepage is unsafe, unsanitary, dangerous, or detrimental to the public safety or welfare and should be repaired, altered, improved, vacated, removed, closed, cleaned or demolished, the commission will have the owner served with a copy of the complaint that will comply with Rule 4 of the West Virginia Rules of Civil Procedure.
According to the proposed ordinance, the property owner will have 10 days from the receipt of the complaint to request a hearing. The hearing will be set within 20 days, and be electronically recorded or recorded by a court reporter.
In other business, signage for the Preston County Election Center will cost roughly $690. County Clerk Linda Huggins said the signs will go on the doors and the windows. She said during the last two elections a large banner was hung out to designate the site.
County Administrator Kathy Mace said she believes the mark can be met to lay the concrete footer for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on the courthouse lawn by May 7. The footer must cure before rebar can be put in place to hold the memorial.
TWEET@DominionPostWV
