By DAVE SCHULTZ
Enforcement of the city’s junk ordinance, now and in the future, was a topic of discussion during this week’s meeting of the Bluffton Board of Public Works and Safety.
Mayor John Whicker said Huntington attorney Adrian Halverstadt will be pursuing legal action on the accumulation of junk at 427 W. Lancaster St. and City Attorney Tony Crowell will do the same for items at 1021 S. Oak St. and 117 E. Market St.
Crowell has done legal work for the owner of the 427 W. Lancaster St., necessitating the need for another attorney in that case.
In all three cases, the city will seek a court order to go onto private property to remove the items.
Whicker made the creation of an ordinance about junk and its enforcement a priority when he assumed office in 2020. He said the city should consider hiring an individual on a part-time basis to do code enforcement.
He said a city resident had brought in complaints about three city properties, two of which were owned by out-of-town individuals or companies.
Richard Triplett, the city’s new building commissioner, said he has been delivering notice of weed violations.
daves@news-banner.com
