Citizens protest gift of property for dumpsters
By Deborah Bennett Millen News Editor

A local citizen's offer to give the county property for the placement of trash dumpsters has adjacent property owners concerned. The Jenkins County Commissioners heard during their Tuesday, Sept. 18, meeting numerous protests on the matter from residents on Hiltonia Road who live near the proposed site.

Joanne Chance presented photographs of the current dumpster site which she said was taken over the weekend depicting the dumpsters overflowing with debris. She also presented a petition with 120 signatures protesting the relocation of the dumpsters to the property being offered.

"I don't think anybody wants that at the end of their drive," Chance remarked, noting that the proposed new site was also adjacent to a cemetery.

The commissioners indicated that they would only accept the property being offered if it could be used as a dumpster site. The group was then asked to help locate another site for relocation of the dumpsters.

Robert Pierce presented a nuisance complaint against a property owner who he said was "stock piling scrap metal to be broken down and sold." The required five adjacent property owners signed the complaint.

Commissioner Floyd Chance indicated that he had visited the site and felt it qualified as a public nuisance under the county's Public Nuisance Ordinance. He then expressed a desire to take immediate action on the matter.

The county administrator was instructed to proceed with the matter, according to the ordinance. Under provisions of the ordinance, the county administrator or an appointee must investigate the matter. If a public nuisance is determined to exist, the property owner may be notified to clean the property up or it may be sent to the Jenkins County Magistrate Court for disposition.

In other action, the commissioners voted 3-2 to offer county health insurance coverage to all elected officials, including the commissioners, though several indicated they did not intend to take the coverage. Commissioners Chance, Domingo Green and Tommy Lane voted in favor of the motion. Commissioners Pam Dwight and James Henry opposed.

Another motion to split the cost of the insurance on a 50-50 percentage between the county and elected officials was approved 4-1 with Commissioner Henry opposing.

Other actions taken by the commissioners were as follows:

• Approved additional landfill expenses of $30,000 for Stantect;

• Approved the appointment of Paula Herrington to the Airport Advisory Committee; and

• Tabled the appointment of Jenkins County Recreation Board member.