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Brooks council discusses fines, Marshall involvement to address stormwater debris
Summary
Council members debated enforcement options after complaints that lawn clippings and leaves were clogging stormwater drainage; the town manager will review the IGA with Fayette County about Marshall services and the council discussed notifying residents via water bills and the town website.
BROOKS, Ga. — The Brooks Town Council on April 17 discussed options to address stormwater drainage problems tied to residents leaving lawn clippings and leaves near ditches and rights-of-way, but took no formal enforcement vote during the public meeting.
Town Manager M. Ungaro told the council there have been complaints about drainage issues and cited Section 15-1.02 of the Brooks Code of Ordinances, which "states that it is unlawful for any person to deposit, accumulate, throw, or leave lawn or garden trash (without consent) upon the property of others, on Town property, public right of ways or ditches along the public right of ways, streams, or within fifty feet of one's property line or within one hundred feet of another person's residence." He suggested that, if the problem persists with the same resident or residents, the town could invoke civil penalties under the enforcement provisions of Section 11.
Council Member Brian Davis asked whether the current intergovernmental agreement with Fayette County covers issuance of citations by the County Marshalls. Ungaro replied he would review the IGA and request that service be added if it is not already included. Mayor Pro Tempore Scott Israel recommended that town staff not be responsible for issuing citations and that the county Marshalls perform that role. Council Member Todd Speer proposed adding a notice to residents' water bills and posting the ordinance language on the town website as nonenforcement first steps.
No motion to levy fines was recorded in the public portion of the meeting. The town manager will check the IGA and report back to the council on whether Marshall services can be used to enforce the ordinance or whether other administrative steps are preferable.
