Silver Lake council warns residents to clear properties before April 25 cleanup day, cites new fines

The Silver Lake Town Council on April 8 warned residents to use the town cleanup day on April 25 to remove trash and address property-maintenance issues or face stricter enforcement under recently adopted ordinances, Council President Hugh Murfin said.

The warning came during a discussion of longstanding complaints about untagged vehicles, property renovations and accumulated trash. Murfin said the town adopted new ordinances last month that include fines of $250 to $300 and that enforcement will intensify after the cleanup day. Council members said they had distributed flyers to notify property owners.

Resident Ron Greer criticized past enforcement practices and questioned whether the new approach would change outcomes. "We have had ordinances all along and nothing has ever been done," Greer said, adding residents often simply paid earlier $25 fines or ignored them. "They would be like $25 and they would just pay $25 or just say the heck with it," he said.

Councilors and department staff discussed how complaints are routed. Councilor Nichole Taylor urged that incoming complaints be passed the same day to the appropriate department — Jason McGlennen for Marshal- or code-related issues and Joey McNeal for street-related matters — rather than waiting a week. McGlennen said he has placed door hangers when he cannot make direct contact with property owners but acknowledged some cases remain unresolved.

Murfin and staff said they will use the April 25 cleanup day as an opportunity to assess compliance and step up enforcement where violations continue. The council did not adopt a new fine schedule at the meeting; Murfin described the $250–$300 figures as part of ordinances that came into effect last month. The council will revisit enforcement outcomes at future meetings.

The council’s next regular meeting is scheduled for May 13 at 7:00 p.m. at Silver Lake Town Hall.