WMPD hitting unkempt yards with violations

WMPD hitting unkempt yards with violations

Tall grass, junk cars in focus with new code enforcement emphasis

news@theeveningtimes.com

Junk cars and tall weeds were the focus of West Memphis Police Department Spokesman Joe Baker during his second monthly report to the Public Works Commission.

Baker reported the initial systematic sweep to cite junky cars on residential lots in the city was about 75 percent complete. Police have divided the city into four geographic areas, Northeast, Southeast, Southwest and Northwest.

The four police wards don’t align with the five political wards of city council, but served Baker well as he delivered the monthly overview. Police were tasked with enforcing codes this year, and made the first report to the commission at the February meeting and returned with a March update.

“We started enforcing vehicle ordinances on broken down and dilapidated vehicles,” said Baker.

City council had moved the responsibility from planning and development to the police hoping for a greater impact cleaning up the city.

“It’s a work in progress, we have three wards completely done,” said Baker.

Here is the violation tally so far: Northeast – 126 vehicles at 93 addresses.

Northwest – 151 vehicles at 119 addresses.

Southwest – 100 vehicles at 91 addresses.

Southeast – up next for enforcement.

“The totals to date are 303 addresses with approximately 377 vehicles,” said Baker. “They were given a letter and a placard on the vehicle with a date and explanation of what we were doing. We still have the southeast to be done. By the time we are done I estimate it will be close to 500 vehicles we have dealt with in the city. We will be done with round one by the end of the week.”

Compliance under the warning letters before it becomes a citation with a fine has been the focus of police.

“We’ve started to go back around checking for compliance,” said Baker. “To date 33 vehicles have been removed in the northeast.

We don’t want to ticket them. We just want them to move it.”

Many people don’t know what to do with junky vehicles that have been rusting away.

“We’ve been giving them a list of 11 wrecker companies that are absolutely free to come and get the car with a title, just for the scrap value,” said Baker.

“We are giving them options.”

Fixes for some vehicles have been easier than having a clunker hauled away.

“Some of the violations aren’t super serious and we are getting a quick fix,” said Baker. “As the ordinance is written now, even a flat tire that has been sitting for an extended amount of time makes the vehicle inoperable. Some of those people have called and asked to be removed from the list. They repair the tire. We run out and check and they are removed from the list.”

There is a grace period with fines with the first round of enforcement. Increased fines are under consideration at city council.

“Until we pass the new fine and fee schedule, we are giving them that much time, instead of hitting them with the old fine and fee schedule doesn’t have teeth behind it,” said Baker. “They are getting several months to get these moved.”

Councilwoman Ramona Taylor thought about getting more procedures defined before the growing season brings neglected and overgrown lots for the next code enforcement emphasis.

“I thought in April we could look at grass cutting,” said Taylor. “It would be good time to figure out how to address that this year.”

By John Rech