JACKSON REDEFINES NUISANCE ORDINANCE

JACKSON -- City officials have redefined nuisances.

The city's new nuisance abatement ordinance spells out precisely what will and will not be tolerated in terms of property upkeep, trash, weeds, noxious odors, old vehicles and a variety of other unpleasantries.

The old ordinance "didn't include a lot of things that we found probably should be included if we were going to have a nuisance ordinance," Mayor Paul Sander said. "A lot of (the new ordinance) deals with how people keep their property and has to do with litter and junk."

Jackson has historically "taken a lot of pride" in having well-kept properties, he said, "and this ordinance puts some teeth into some laws that will help us keep it that way."

City administrator Steve Wilson said the new ordinance is much more specific on what will and will not be tolerated.

"We felt that the old ordinance didn't speak with enough specificity where we could enforce it," Wilson said. "We want to have the authority and I think our citizens in the city want us to have the authority to make certain that people keep their property in a safe and healthy condition."

He said city staff researched other cities' ordinances and listened to residents' complaints about what they consider nuisances while putting the new ordinance together.

"Generally what happens is we'll get a call from somebody in a neighborhood that will notify us of a dangerous or unsanitary condition," Wilson said. "We as a rule don't generate those complaints."

For the most part, he said, residents show "fairly good compliance" with city's ordinance.

"But on the few occasions where there is a problem, on a scale of one to 10, when these happen, they tend to be fairly severe," he said.

The new ordinance outlines specific definitions of what, exactly, constitutes a "nuisance." Included are conditions which "substantially annoy, injure or endanger" the public, "greatly offend the public morals or decency" or interfere with or obstruct streets, alleys and other public rights-of-way.

The ordinance, approved by aldermen Monday night, also establishes a timeline for property owners or occupants to clean up or remove the problem. Offenders have from 24 hours after notification to clean up serious violations to up to 10 days for minor infractions.

After that, the city will clean up the property, and the owner or occupant will be billed for the work. If the bill isn't paid within 30 days, the city will put a lien on the property.

Fines for violating the ordinance will range from $10 to $200.

The city's building officer will handle most complaints, Wilson said.

NUISANCE LAW

The city of Jackson's new nuisance abatement ordinance spells out all kinds of "do's and don'ts" for property upkeep in the city. Among the designated nuisances:

Decayed, harmfully adulterated or unwholesome food or drink offered for sale

Accumulations of garbage, refuse, stagnant water or vegetation which may harbor insects, snakes, rodents or vermin

Noxious weeds

Vegetation which hinders the removal of junk, trash or debris

Vegetation which is "unmanaged and in excess of 12 inches," except for cultivated flowers, vegetables or other garden plants

Weeds, vegetation or tree limbs that block the view of intersections or public thoroughfares or block sidewalks or alleys

Smoke, soot, ash, cinders, fumes, etc., except for smoke from residential fireplaces, in sufficient quantity to endanger people or property

Activities, substances or uses of property which cause "foul, offensive, noisome, nauseous, noxious or disagreeable" odors, effluvia or "stenches extremely repulsive" to the public

Animals kept in unsanitary conditions