Mississippi County now has an ordinance that gives county officials a course of action for dealing with abandoned and unsightly properties that pose a health or safety issue to surrounding residents -- something County Judge Randy Carney said has been an issue for quite some time.
In Tuesday's meeting, the Quorum Court voted for an ordinance that gives officials on the county level some recourse for dealing with unsightly, unsanitary and otherwise dangerous properties that sit outside city limits.
Carney said an ordinance like this was much-needed, adding that until this was passed, all the county could do was send out a letter asking a property owner to fix a cited issue. However, if the property owner decided not to make any changes, nothing else could be done.
Carney, as well as a number of justices, spoke out during the meeting clarifying that this ordinance was not an attempt to "police" those living in the county and force them to adhere to a county equivalent of the code enforcement regulations most cities have, nor is it a proactive ordinance -- which is to say that county officials will not be going out looking for properties that are in violation of the ordinance, but instead will react to complaints received.
The fine for violations of the ordinance have been set at $100 per specified offense or violation, or double that amount for each repeat of the same offense or violation.
Also Tuesday, the Court approved an ordinance appropriating $275,000 for repairs to the former missile assembly building for the use of NU Steel, a remanufacturing company relocating to Blytheville from Caruthersville.
Carney alsotold the hustices that the remodeling project on the Moore Center is under way. The project, which was awarded to MVC Construction, will take several months to finish, but according to Carney, the end of the building that will be used for voting will be ready in time for the May primary elections.
cpinkard@blythevillecourier.com