City goes after nuisance property violators

By Randy Bell    

On the agenda for the July 7 Board of Aldermen meeting were nine requests dealing with unkempt property across Clinton, but Director of Community Development Roy Edwards told the Board that three of those had been resolved by the time the meeting began.  Resolutions were approved to allow the City to take action against the six remaining property owners to have the premises cleaned or to have inoperable vehicles removed.

The Board voted to declare the properties “a menace to the public health and safety of the community.”  Edwards said notices were posted at each location, and the owners were notified by mail.  At least four of the houses – on Lindale Drive, Arlington Street, Twin Oaks Drive and Meadow Hill Drive – are vacant.  The Board seemed especially concerned about the property on Twin Oaks because of the abandoned swimming pool in the backyard.

“The property owners will be charged for the actual clean-up and [given] a $1,500 fine,” Edwards noted in an email.