Lori Graham
Contributing Writer
BLACKSBURG – The Blacksburg Town Council approved amendments to the town code establishing civil penalties for certain trash violations with a unanimous vote at its regular meeting Tuesday, Feb. 13.
According to Ordinance 2038, trash could include “abandoned personal property, garbage, refuse, litter or debris openly lying on any parcel, which might endanger the health of residents of the town.”
Section 14-201 specifies it is the occupant and/or owner’s responsibility to remove trash and clutter as well as weeds exceeding from their real property. All clutter should be either concealed in an enclosed building or concealed with a screening as specified in the ordinance.
Town Attorney Larry Spencer made the presentation on the proposed amendments to the ordinance during the Feb. 13 meeting.
“The title makes it sound a little more grand than it really is, but our current process is really, for the trash, is a slow moving process,” said Spencer. “Where there’s trash on a lot, the owner gets a notice to correct it. There’s a process if they don’t really think it’s a problem, it’s an appeal process. This is intended to address situations that are a little bit different where it’s more of a health hazard and where there’s loose trash, most typically out of dumpsters, but also it could be from trash cans.”
Spencer said he did not want to give the impression the town would be policing neighborhoods. This is typically found in the location of apartment complexes. In the presence of an issue with unsightly or unhealthy trash hazards, Spencer said that it would start first with a conversation with the property owner or occupant.
“If there is non-compliance after that, it’s a maximum fine of $50,” Spencer said. “It just fills a little bit of a gap in our current processes.”
Council members also unanimously approved an amendment to Ordinance 2040 establishing the new Section 17-315 prohibiting overcrowding in buildings. This in conjunction with the fire code already in place and allows that any event, restaurant, bar or other establishment, upon discovery of an overcrowded situation, can be stopped by fire authorities or their representatives until the situation is corrected. According to the ordinance, this type of violation is classified as a Class One Misdemeanor.