With the condition of several yards in Leflore County generating complaints, county supervisors are taking steps to get those properties up to snuff.
Board Attorney Willie Perkins, toward the end of July, mailed letters to four property owners saying their properties were "in a state of uncleanliness as to be a menace to the public health and safety of the community."
The letters were sent to Author Woods, George Fluker Jr., Davis Michael and Morgan McGeoy. However, only Fluker received a letter. The others were returned to sender. A notice will be published to inform Woods, Michael and McGeoy of the situation.
Zoning Enforcement Officer David Fondren told supervisors at their meeting Tuesday that many have complained Fluker's property on Rising Sun Circle is an eyesore.
District 4 Supervisor Wayne Self agreed that the property had the look and feel "of a disaster area."
The letter to Fluker said Fondren had previously notified him about the problem, namely the abundance of junk cars on the property. Fluker, the board said, runs an automobile repair business on the property, which is zoned as residential.
"So we got two types of situations here," said Board President Robert Moore, referencing both the condition of the property and the legality of operating a business at the site. "(Fluker's) obviously got the cart before the horse. And to get it right, he needs to come before this board and get rezoned."
Fondren said that to operate a business at that location, the property would need to be rezoned.
Self made a motion to give Fluker two weeks to get the property in compliance with the law. "And after that, we should take further action for him operating a business in a residential area," Self said.
District 5 Supervisor Larry "Kite" Johnson seconded the motion, which passed.
Looking at all four properties, Chancery Clerk Sam Abraham, who also serves as county administrator, said the letters and subsequent notices in the newspaper were getting expensive. "At some point, we're going to have to consider charging these folks," he said. "We got a lot of repeats."
Also Tuesday:
- The board agreed to a change the hours of operation at the Leflore County Landfill, from 7 a.m. until 4 p.m., to 5 a.m. until 4 p.m.
- The board agreed to enter into a contract with the city of Itta Bena to collect garbage from the city's 764 residents for the price of $850. The garbage will be picked up once a week.
