Commissioners extend cleanup deadline, allow privacy fence for screened vehicle storage

The DeKalb County commissioners voted May 26 to extend compliance timelines for two ongoing property cleanup cases and to allow screened storage behind a 6‑foot privacy fence in one of them.

Staff reported progress but incomplete compliance at a property associated with a local owner identified in enforcement records; enforcement staff said the owner has not reliably responded to calls and has not provided the valid vehicle registrations the county requires. The board first approved a 30‑day extension to give the owner additional time to complete cleanup and to provide documentation. "I'll make the motion to extend the 30 days," a commissioner said; the motion was seconded and carried unanimously.

Separately, commissioners approved a second motion to permit the storage of vehicles behind a 6‑foot privacy fence so long as nothing is kept outside the fence and the fenced area is not visible from the public right of way. "I would make the motion that we allow him to store vehicles behind a 6 foot fence to obscure the presence of those vehicles," a commissioner moved; the board approved the measure 3‑0.

The meeting also included extended public discussion about a property in Corona tied to members of the Mason family. Johnny Mason and others addressed the board about vehicles on their property, described which items had been removed and which remained, and said some vehicles are hobby or off‑road vehicles that lack conventional titles or registrations because of their custom construction. "These trucks literally are shells of a body of a truck that was provided from a dealership long time ago," a resident said, explaining why full titles or VINs are not available for some off‑road vehicles.

Code enforcement staff told the commissioners the county's ordinance looks to valid registrations, not titles, to determine whether a vehicle is abandoned and subject to removal. Staff said they will return to the property for updated photos and an on‑site review; the board agreed to another 30‑day review period to allow the owners time to produce current registrations and take further cleanup steps.

The order of votes recorded by the clerk shows both extensions and the fence allowance passed without opposition. The county will follow up with the property owners, and staff said they may pursue legal action if required documentation is not produced by the next review.