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Residents urge Bradley County to clean up junkyards on Tanya Drive; officials cite enforcement limits
Summary
Tanya Drive residents told the commission that scrap cars, lawnmowers and debris near homes create health and safety concerns and depress property values; commissioners and staff said limited county ordinances and ongoing code-enforcement letters constrain what the county can do immediately.
Resident Roy Sherlyn told the commission that multiple properties on Tanya Drive Southwest have become junkyards, with scrap cars, lawnmowers and other debris close to homes.
"I poured my heart out into my place, blood, sweat, and tears to only to have junkyards moved in my area. And it's an eyesore. I do have pictures of these junkyards. And I'm just wondering what we can do to get it cleaned up," Roy Sherlyn said during the public-comment period.
Sherlyn and other residents said the sites produce odors of gasoline and oil, limit access on the one-way road, and worry potential buyers and elderly neighbors. He said the condition has affected how people view properties on the street and expressed concern for safety at night.
Commissioners and county staff said enforcement is constrained by the difference between city and county rules. A county official told residents that some county ordinances and code-enforcement options are limited in unincorporated areas and that in many cases the county's usual response is to send letters asking property owners to clean up violations. At least one letter from code enforcement (Bentley) was reported as being prepared or mailed to a property owner.
Commissioner Mason offered to follow up directly with county code enforcement staff. "Miss Sherlyn, I'll get with Bentley again, and we'll we'll revisit," Mason said during the exchange.
Commissioners directed the matter to the road committee for additional review; the chair said the issue would be turned over to that committee. Speakers noted that civil-court remedies have been used in at least one case but said repeat violations can occur when a different family member occupies a property.
No new county ordinance was adopted during the work session. Residents asked for a stronger enforcement tool such as an ordinance change or the ability for the county to abate and place cleanup costs on tax bills; commissioners and staff said doing so would require a change in county law or additional procedures.
The commission committed to follow-up: staff indicated existing complaints would be reviewed and a code-enforcement letter process already in progress would continue, and Commissioner Mason offered to assist residents in supplying addresses to staff for additional inspections.
