SF man seeks help with trash problem

By CHRIS MENEES
Messenger Staff Reporter
South Fulton resident Mark Vaughn is pleading with city officials to intervene in a trash problem near his Covington Avenue home.
Vaughn appeared before the South Fulton City Commission during its regular session Thursday evening at the city’s municipal complex.
He told commissioners he has been having problems with a “business neighbor” on nearby Broadway for the past two years and during that time has had several meetings with city officials to discuss the matter, as well as appeared before the city commission in the past, but to no avail.
Vaughn showed the commis-sion photos of the trash that allegedly accumulated recently on the nearby commercial property and said the unkempt premises is a violation of a city code that requires premises to be kept clean and free of trash.
“This is a problem,” he told South Fulton Mayor Ron Haskins and the other city commissioners.
Haskins mentioned the possibility of the trash originating from a nearby car wash rather than from the business Vaughn has mentioned as the problem, but Vaughn said the law indicates that property owners are responsible for removing trash on their premises and he is asking again that the code be enforced.
Vaughn claimed the city’s zoning ordinance was amended to allow the business to locate there and he alleged that city officials will not enforce a law that requires the business owner to be screened from the residential area with the use of a fence or shrubbery.
Vaughn said he hopes new city manager Jeff Vowell and new city commissioner Keith Curlin, who represents the ward where he lives, will be able to offer some help.
Haskins suggested that Vaughn needs to “bond” with the business owner he has mentioned and the two of them work together to find a solution to the trash problem, including targeting the car wash if that is where the trash is originating.
No action was taken by the commission during the meeting.
In other action during Thursday evening’s meeting, which was opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and with prayer led by Haskins, the commission:
• Approved the first reading of an ordinance to call an election to elect city commissioners and a mayor.
In accordance with city code, the ordinance calls for the election to be held Nov. 4 for the selection of two city commissioners for terms of four years each from Districts 1 and 4, as well as the city-wide election of a mayor for a four-year term from Districts 1, 2, 3 and 4.
• Approved the second and final reading of an ordinance pertaining to the provision of municipal water services, prohibiting the construction of privately-owned wells and springs and prohibiting the keeping of dangerous or offensive pools or ponds. City attorney Karl Ivey said the ordinance basically prohibits water collection points that could present dangers or health hazards.
• Authorized the city manager to seek bids for the city’s audit. Vowell said the accounting firm currently providing the audit service is now also the firm providing the city’s bookkeeping services and it cannot do both.
• Was reminded by Haskins that the Twin Cities Chamber of Commerce dinner will be held Saturday night at the Pontotoc Community Center in downtown Fulton, with a military major general as the guest speaker.
• Learned from Vowell that he believes he is about halfway through the budget for the next fiscal year. He said he plans to schedule a called meeting sometime next week in order to provide commissioners with estimates.
Vice Mayor Charles Moody was absent from the meeting Thursday evening.
Staff Reporter Chris Menees may be contacted by e-mail at cmenees@ucmessenger.com.
Published in The Messenger 5.16.08

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