Ferry trash ordinance has teeth
Calls for placing tax liens on repeat offenders’ property
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MARTINS FERRY -- City Council unanimously approved an ordinance Wednesday expected to give an existing law some teeth when it comes to enforcing trash-related issues.
Council President Kristine Davis said the law, titled "An Ordinance Regarding Rubbish, Garbage and Outside Storage," calls for allowing the mayor to place tax liens on the properties of repeat offenders of codes related to garbage.
"This is for large amounts of trash, not a couple bags. For debris and old cars," she said. "This is for repeat offenders; people who are back in court who have accumulated more junk and trash. It's an ongoing process."
If an offender does not heed the city's codes related to trash and cleanup, the property owner will be sent a bill for the cost of the cleanup conducted by the city. If not paid, a tax lien will be put on the property. It would have to be paid at the time taxes are paid.
The ordinance will go into effect in 30 days. It states, in part, that "No person being the owner or occupant of any premises shall maintain or permit to be maintained on the exterior property area of such premises the storage or accumulation of materials including but not limited to out of use or non-usable appliances, auto parts, tires, rugs, rags, broken, dilapidated or unusable furniture, other household furniture or goods, plastic materials, paints or combustible materials, disabled or inoperative machinery or equipment, lumber, building materials, decaying matter of any kind, wood or paper boxes, wearing apparel, grass clippings, trimmings from trees or shrubs, leaves, bagged mulch, wood, ashes, tin cans, aluminum cans, empty containers, glass and metal including all forms of scrap."
There are some exceptions noted within the ordinance.
In other matters, Davis said since the city building still is closed because of COVID-19 concerns, residents who need to speak to a city department in person can still do so by ringing a buzzer to the left of the front door.
Residents can ring the bell and someone will ask who they need to speak with. That person can then come outside to address the person or take a payment.
Davis said the buzzer has been there for years but has mostly been used in the past by delivery people.
She said the city building remains closed to protect workers and the public from potentially getting the virus.
Davis said council also approved appropriating an additional $50,000 from the city's Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act funding toward the purchase of two new ambulances for the city EMS. The total cost is $378,000. The vehicles are expected to be built and ready by spring.
Davis said Councilman Bruce Shrodes talked about plans to have an old Spanish-American War cannon removed from the city building basement and placed at the City Park. It was given to the city many decades ago. It previously was situated in one of the city's cemeteries.
Davis noted members of council, the mayor and some residents expressed their thanks and appreciation for city employees' hard work to keep the streets cleared of snow, along with members of the police department for continuing to patrol during the harsh weather conditions. It was noted the past year has been a trying time for all the workers due to COVID-19 concerns, city financial issues and now multiple snowstorms.
She added water department workers had to fix a waterline break in 11-degree weather in recent days.
Meanwhile, council also approved a resolution related to the Jefferson and Belmont County Solid Waste Authority's Management Plan. The authority, aka J.B. Green Team, provides recycling receptacles across both counties for public use.
Council's finance committee is set to meet at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday to review the city's budget.