LETTERS: PLENTY OF OPTIONS FOR DEALING WITH COUNTY NUISANCES

To the editor:

I read Monday's headlines in disbelief. This planning and zoning thing is driving the 30 percent or less who voted for it crazy. When we had planning and zoning, nothing was done to stop the dumping on County Road 255.

The Cape Girardeau County Commission says it wanted to avoid trash and rubbish that would attract rats and spread disease. When was the last time a rat transmitted a disease to someone in this county? Probably the late 19th century. This is a scare tactic.

During the debate on planning and zoning, questions were raised to the commissioners as to what could be done about trash with P&Z in place. They said P&Z had nothing to do with nuisance abatement. It would not cover trash and junk cars. P&Z would only cover building setbacks and things of that nature.

Now, as we recommended, they are going to look at the state statutes to see if there are any laws that can help. At the P&Z meetings there were copies of Department of Natural Resources regulations that addressed this issue and were offered as a compromise to the expensive and burdensome P&Z proposal, but no one would listen. I have done extensive research on this issue and will be glad to work with them on a nuisance-abatement order that will benefit our county. Our county government needs to offer solutions such as a waste transfer station so residents have a place to go with refuse when we start this cleanup campaign.

DOUGLAS FLANNERY

Whitewater, Mo.