The Lawrence County commissioners are taking a stand against structures that have been damaged by fire and remain standing, attracting vandals, arsonists, rodents and other manner of pests.

Thursday, September 02, 1999

The Lawrence County commissioners are taking a stand against structures that have been damaged by fire and remain standing, attracting vandals, arsonists, rodents and other manner of pests.

They intend to get tough on the owners who seem to have forgotten that losing a home or business to fire or having a house that is unoccupied, is no excuse for leaving property that is not only an eyesore, but a hazard as well.

The garbage dumps that litter Lawrence County’s hillsides are not the only blemishes on the area’s otherwise lush and green hillsides. There are many properties that have been abandoned for years and have debris of all sorts on them in addition to structures that are less than safe.

These sites are dangerous attractions for children who want to explore, and that is where the greatest danger lies. Couple that worry with the possibility of vermin and other manner of pests and you get a situation that could be potentially explosive.

A tougher law on absentee landlords and irresponsible property owners is more than just a way to keep the county clean. When areas are littered with trash, they aren’t much of an advertisement for businesses looking for a new place to build or expand.

Abandoned properties and trash dumps send a message to visitors and businessowners that Lawrence County is not a place to invest.

The commissioners should continue their plan to make sure that label doesn’t stick.