Did you know?
An sample of blight in Clay Township, Ohio or Pennsylvania
By Molly Howlett
Are you one of the many people upset by the increasing amount of junk accumulating in the village of Stockbridge? Perhaps you have even called or stopped into the village office to complain about how our charming village has become less appealing over the past few years because of the junk, trash and especially vehicles piling up in your neighbors’ yards. As many organizations work to beautify the village, the increasing amount of junk that people are collecting offsets all of the positive work being done. Our lovely town is losing its appeal.
Over the next few months, I’m going to address these issues by including the village ordinances in my column. Perhaps people aren’t aware that they are in violation. Perhaps they don’t care. After publicly posting the ordinances related to these problems, no one has an excuse to not comply.
The Village Council is preparing to do its part in cleaning up the violations by following the necessary legal processes. Photos have been taken, and files have been prepared. Everyone not in compliance with the ordinances will be notified by letter by the village clerk. In case you weren’t aware, the ordinance regarding junk reads as follows and can be found online:
Sec. 18-51. Junk.
Junk–Includes, without limitation, parts of machinery or motor vehicles, including tires, unused furniture, stoves, refrigerators, or other appliances, remnants of wood, metal, or any other cast-off material of any kind, whether or not the same could be put to any reasonable use.
Junk automobiles--Include, without limitation, any motor vehicle which is not licensed for use upon the highways of the state for a period in excess of 30 days, and shall also include, whether licensed or not, any motor vehicle which is inoperative for any reason for a period in excess of ten days; provided that unlicensed, but operative, vehicles which are kept as the stock-in-trade of a regularly licensed and established new or used automobile dealer are excepted from this definition.
The following conduct is prohibited:
- Storing or permitting the storage or accumulation of junk, junk automobiles, or abandoned vehicles on any property in the village except within a completely enclosed building.
So there it is. Everyone is now informed, and everyone hopes that violators do their part by getting rid of their junk. If not, letters will be sent to all violators.
Molly Howlett, a founding director of Stockbridge Community News, serves on the Village Council, Township Planning Commission, 5 Healthy Towns, and Parks & Recreation boards. An active Lioness, she taught English and Spanish at Stockbridge High School for many years before retiring in 2004.
