Board to talk junk vehicle ordinance
By Steve Herring
Published in News on January 16, 2017 9:57 AM
The public Tuesday morning will have the opportunity to comment on proposed changes to Wayne County's abandoned and junk vehicle ordinance and its mobile home park ordinance.
Wayne County commissioners will hold public hearings on the changes at 9:30 a.m. in their meeting room on the fourth floor of the Wayne County Courthouse Annex.
The board can act on the changes following the public hearings.
The meeting will get underway at 8 a.m. with an agenda briefing followed by the formal session at 9 a.m. in the commissioners' meeting room.
The proposed changes can be viewed online at www.waynegov.com/717/Proposed-Ordinance-Changes.
One suggested change in the abandoned and junked vehicles ordinance spells out the responsibility of the sheriff and code enforcement officer by defining and including private lots, recorded subdivision lots and mobile home parks.
Language in the proposal defining motor vehicles is pulled straight from the general statutes, which covers "all machines designed or intended to travel on land," County Planner Chip Crumpler said at the board's Jan. 3 session.
The proposal adds "on water" to include boats.
Another change would add terminology that the county enforcement officer may determine that a vehicle is abandoned and order it moved following an investigation initiated after receiving two complaints, Crumpler said.
The proposed changes eliminate a vehicle redemption fee set by commissioners and would allow two vehicles to be stored under car covers. Currently the limit is one.
The car cover must be in good repair.
The changes also include extending the time period for removal of a vehicle by the homeowner from seven to 14 days.
The proposed changes also adds exemptions for unlicensed vehicles, antiques, vehicles listed for tax purposes and not constituting a nuisance.
Proposed change to the mobile home park ordinance include:
* increasing civil penalties for violation from $50 to $100 and changing the amount of time for payment from 10 to 30 days.
* removing a requirement for permanent lot markers for 911 addressing standards since that already is handled with the addressing ordinance standards.
* adding a complaint procedure section regarding the requirement for two different complaints and discretion of official to issue written warning for non-compliance.
* adding the receipt of two complaints of noncompliance against a park to initiate an investigation by the code enforcement officer. If the investigation reveals a violation, the officer has the authority to issue a written warning or civil citation and "may obtain criminal process" for the violation.
Commissioners will hold a work session on a presentation by Stewart, Cooper, Newell Architects Vice President James Stumbo on the 911 call center schematic design.
The approximately $3.82 million center will be built on an 18.7-acre vacant lot between the county Facilities Services Office and the animal shelter.
In other business, commissioners will be asked to consider motions to approve:
* Emerging Technology and Entertainment Weekend proclamation.
* selling property at 215 East Elm St., jointly owned with the city of Goldsboro, as requested by the city.
* a resolution declaring the official intent of the commissioners to reimburse expenditures by the county for the Spillman Technologies computer system from the proceeds of a tax-exempt financing and appropriate budget amendment.
Tim Rogers, solid waste director, will update the board on the amount of Hurricane Matthew debris collected between Oct. 13 through December.
A presentation will be made on the county's 2015-2016 comprehensive annual financial report.
Commissioners will be asked to approve the report.
Public comments will be taken at 9:15 a.m. Speakers have four minutes to comment on their topic of choice.
Consent agenda items include: Application for Property Tax Exclusion; Community Services Block Grant application; resolution approving a qualified source for obtaining the state-required ethics training required; and budget amendments.