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Residents press Sparta council to enforce nuisance rules on Maple Street over junk cars, graffiti and overflowing dumpster
Summary
Multiple residents urged the Sparta Town Council to act on longstanding complaints about a property on Maple Street where piled trash, tires, graffiti and alleged auto repairs are affecting neighborhood values; staff pledged outreach and warned of a certified nuisance letter and potential fines if owners don't comply.
Residents told the Sparta Town Council that a property on Maple Street has piled garbage, tires and graffiti that are harming property values and creating a public-nuisance risk.
Jim Halsey, who identified himself during public comment, said the site is for sale but looks "ugly" and has become a problem for neighbors. Michael Farber and Barbara Turman (the latter identifying herself as a nearby property owner) described growing piles of trash and alleged illegal auto-repair activity and asked the council to inspect the site and enforce town ordinances.
A staff member responded that the town will contact the property owners, issue a certified nuisance-warning letter if the owners do not respond by Friday, and pursue enforcement under the town code. Staff cited town ordinance provisions, noted the town can assess fines for violations and said the manager has authority to enforce codes; staff gave a specific reference to "ordinance 10.99" and a potential daily fine amount when discussing enforcement mechanics.
Residents said they would like the council to inspect the street and intervene, citing safety, property-value and rodent concerns. Staff asked residents to document problems and said operations staff would meet individually with complainants to review bills and other concerns.
Why it matters: Neighbors said the condition has persisted for years, they said it affects neighborhood livability and home values, and they urged the town to use existing nuisance and public-health enforcement tools rather than leave the problem unresolved.
Next steps: Staff said they will attempt to contact the property owners this week and, if necessary, send a certified nuisance warning and pursue ordinance-based remedies, including fines, in accordance with town code.
