3/14/1995 - Laserfiche WebLink

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BOOKPACE 6 - Analysis of Debris Whenever code enforcement staff finds household trash dumped on vacant property or in rights-of-way, code officers search the trash attempting to find mail or other items which may identify the dumper/violator. According to county regulations, such items are prima facie evidence that the named person did the dumping. Although often unsuccessful, the debris analysis has resulted in the identification of a number of violators. When a violator is so identified, the violator is required to clean up the trash or debris that was dumped. In cases where voluntary compliance is not achieved, code enforcement board action is pursued. - Property Owner Citation When junk, trash or debris is found on privately owned, vacant property and the dumper cannot be identified, code enforcement staff then cites the landowner. The landowner is cited because the referenced trash and debris must be removed for health, safety and aesthetic reasons and because the landowner is ultimately responsible for his property. In those types of cases, code enforcement action is usually successful in getting debris removed from property. - Debris Removal From County Rights-of-way As indicated, removal of trash and debris on privately owned property is the responsibility of the property owner. For county right-of-way or other county owned property, it is the county's responsibility to remove junk, trash and debris. To effect removal of debris from county rights-of-way, code enforcement staff coordinates with the road and bridge division of the county public works department. This occurs regularly. Since rights-of-way are easily accessible, a significant amount of trash and debris is dumped in the right-of-way. Consequently, road and bridge has removed such items as discarded furniture and appliances, household trash, landclearing debris, and construction/demolition debris from rights-of-way. ANALYSIS• There are various ways to address the issue of illegal dumping. Currently, the county is mostly reactive and enforcement oriented. This has worked to at least some extent, in that illegal dumping is probably less than it would be without enforcement activities. In this county, large vacant, isolated parcels will exist for many years. Since these areas are conducive to trash and debris dumping, the problem will persist. Given the geographic area involved, there will never be enough code officers or sheriff's deputies to prevent illegal dumping throughout the county. Although enforcement, itself, will not resolve the illegal dumping problem, there are other actions that the county can take to reduce the magnitude of the problem. These are generally activities that make it less convenient or lessen the incentives to illegally dump trash and debris. One action that the county has taken that should limit dumping is the imposition of the Solid Waste Disposal District (SWDD) fee and vie] March 14, 1995 _I