Residents press Byron council to tackle blight and neighborhood flooding

Mary Ann Byrd, a Toomerville resident who said she and neighbors call themselves the “Byron Blight Busters,” asked the City of Byron mayor and council on Sept. 12 to help clean up multiple blighted lots, torn‑up cars and recurring flooding in her neighborhood and provided a book of photos for council review.

Mayor Michael Chidester said the city has been surveying areas considered health and fire hazards and that six residents recently received letters asking them to state their plans or work with the city to remove hazards. He said if there is no response the city will declare the property a health hazard and “tell them it will be torn down in 30 days if no measures are taken.”

Council Member Alan Dorsey offered to haul off inoperable cars at owners’ request. City Administrator Tiffany Sandefur told Byrd staff is preparing a grant pre‑application due Oct. 14 and asked Byrd to send photos of flash‑flooding events to aid that application.

Douglas Trayer, another longtime resident, told council some neighbors are not cutting grass, siding is falling from houses, and trash service and phone response from city hall have been inconsistent. He raised questions about recycling pickup, sidewalk safety in Toomerville and speeding on Boy Scout Road, and said the town’s water costs felt high to him. City Clerk Telina Allred gave Trayer her direct line for follow‑up. Trayer said he intends to remain in Byron and “loves the town.”

The mayor and council did not take immediate enforcement action at the meeting beyond the previously issued letters; staff requested photographic evidence of flooding and said it will pursue the grant pre‑application and the code‑compliance process.