Let's clean up the county (01/26/06)

To the editor:

Hello everyone. I have always been taught to believe that Jay County and Portland is a place to be proud of. Yes, we do have a lot of things to be proud of here in Jay County — Arts Place, John Jay Center for Learning an awesome Public Library, a terrific Community Center, and tourism center, this is just to name a few.

We do, however, have something that makes our county one of the junkiest around. What am I referring to? The amount of junk (non-running) cars and trucks people have on their property. I thought there was a limit of four non-running cars allowed on a person’s property (individuals, not wrecker or salvage businesses).

So why do we still have all these junk cars and trucks sitting around? Why does this bother me? Well when people have a lot of junk vehicles sitting around, they deteriorate and the hoses and everything start to rust and fall apart, and where do the fluids go from those cars? Into the ground and into the drinking water and the soil, therefore contaminating it.

The junk cars also provide a nesting and breeding place for all kinds of unwanted pests and rodents like rats, and mice and other fun vermin. Not to mention the eyesore it creates for the neighbors that have to look at the junk everyday. If someone would want to look at junk vehicles they would have probably moved across from a salvage yard, not in a neighborhood that is supposed to be somewhat neat and clean.

The junk cars are not the only problem. What about all the trash and debris some people have laying around all over their property? When the wind blows it blows right over to someone else's property. Is that fair to always have to be cleaning up other people’s junk and trash because they are either to lazy or just plain don't care what they do with their stuff?

What about the eyesores created by houses that are in various states of decay and are falling down, and the yards are so overgrown you could probably put a herd of goats in the yard and they probably couldn't get it mowed down in a month?

Case in point the house trailer that sets off Ind. 67 by the business Boolman used to own. Now that’s a pretty sight, isn’t it?

Here's another one: Out south of Portland on U.S. 27 at the corner of 550 South the house is in bad shape, there is a vacant trailer right behind it and the door of it is often standing wide open. Who knows what is in there.

The garage or what remains of the garage is almost completely on the ground with everything inside (junk) for everyone to look at. Nice, huh?

My question is, do we not have a junk/trash ordinance for the county? If so, why is it not being enforced? If we don't have one, maybe someone should consider making one and enforcing it.

Do we want people to come to Jay County and seeing all these fine sights? What kind of thoughts do you think are going through their minds?

Here is another key ideal sight — it is a doozy. Go to Ind. 18 in Bryant and turn to the west or left if coming from Portland. Take Ind. 18 to county road 250 West and turn to the right. Go through the Loblolly Marsh Wetland Preserve (it is nice, if people don't dump their trash there, which they do) and take 250 West until it Ts. Turn left and follow it and you will find the house on the curve. Notice all the trash and junk vehicles and a lot of trash and junk. This place has to be the ultimate health hazard.

Another question I have is why do people keep these junk cars? They are not making the value of their property go up, or of any possible value to them. Why not sell them to a salvage yard and make a bit of money off of them, and also clean up their property?

I think Barrnett's and maybe Williams Auto Parts buy vehicles and I am sure there are others. They even come and get them and haul them away for you, and pay for them.

Sounds like a good deal. Try it you might like it. I know your neighbors will.

Dianna Miller

Portland[[In-content Ad]]