Westend residents discuss junk vehicle ordinance

Submitted by Poul Toftemark of Rosburg

On May 15, County Commissioners Blair Brady and Dan Cothren conducted a town hall meeting, for the people of the Westend and anyone with concerns of accumulations of junk cars, boats, trailers etc. The meeting was simply to hear peoples’ concerns, after numerous complaints to the county departments.

By the looks of the attendance, 70+ in a crowded, standing room only, meeting room at the Johnson Park Center in Rosburg, there are a lot of concerns. A sign up was provided for anyone to voice their opinions. There was a deputy sheriff to answer some of the legality questions. One such was how to deal with junk vehicles without titles. The reply was that an officer can come and check for VIN number and determine last owners, and if after they are notified, and not answering, the vehicle can then be junked for metal salvage. It was suggested the county help facilitate the removal process by directing residents to individuals or companies willing to take and perhaps pay to take the vehicles.

Several longtime Valley residents mentioned that in the earlier times, parts cars and machinery were usually stored behind the barn or house, so as to not be an eyesore. An out of sight out of mind attitude seemed to be prevalent among most.

Concerns were voiced on the pollution aspect of oil leakage, battery spillage and other pollutants from stored items, in particular along the rivers and streams. The rainfall here makes almost anyplace a stream at times. The obvious was simply the eyesore aspect, of one’s neighbor's junk, on property and property values.

County right of way concerns were also voiced, with junk cars and trailers extending onto the roadway, impeding traffic and creating safety concerns for fire, ambulance and such. This also created a problem brought up, with the county lacking a consistent right of way easement, on private properties. The deputy mentioned cases where residents would simply move the vehicles and put them back. That would exempt them from the time limit one can be parked.

A resident farmer mentioned the parts aspect of keeping old equipment for parts as being crucial to operating a farm. Commissioner Brady later suggested farms to be exempt. One question was asked if property values reflected junky neighbors. Brady said that would be a question for the assessor.

One resident questioned how to get rid of fiberglass boats. No one had a clear answer on that, but people suggested getting in touch with the recycling company in Warrenton, who recycles most anything.

Brady cautioned of infringement on property rights, while Cothren was more on the ordinance for relief of the problems. The difficulty in determining what is junk, what is a nuisance, how many, how long, was discussed with no determining outcome. It was suggested a committee be formed to come up with language, acceptable to residents’ concern with both sides.

Both commissioners reiterated that this is only the beginning of hearings, suggesting the final word would come from a vote by county residents. At the end there was a call for show of hands for some sort of ordinance versus no ordinance. A show of all but perhaps 5-8 hands favored some sort of ordinance be enacted.