Officials to U.S. Corps: Use sediment for coastal restoration
October 18, 2006Opening this Friday, Oct. 27
October 22, 2006A newly amended noise ordinance drew fire at the Lafourche Parish Council’s meeting last week.
The original nuisance abatement ordinance has been on the books for years but its new amendments have resurrected old, ill feelings among some residents.
Longtime resident Mark Rodriguez said, “If you want someone to cleanup their yard n ask them. I don’t believe that anybody should come to my property and tell me what to do.”
Rodriguez was among a number of local residents who voiced grievances about the ordinance, which is set to go into effect in the coming week.
The nuisance abatement law was designed to provide a healthy living environment through the elimination of garbage, junked vehicles, abandoned buildings or vessels and other unsanitary conditions within the parish lines. By removing these things the parish hopes to eliminate conditions that are conductive to fire, snakes, rats and mice, according to officials.
Regardless of intentions, resident Pamela Davis still feels that her constitutional rights are being violated. “I don’t think the parish can tell me what I can have in my yard.”
The new amendments didn’t change the purpose of the ordinance. They did, however, more clearly define the intent and remove some awkward wording from the document, said District 5 Councilman Mark Atzenhoffer and Council Chairman Brent Callias, who authored the changes.
In Article II section 9:8 “abandoned/junked vehicles,” is given a broader definition. A vehicle is now deemed a “total loss” and the owner subject to fine if it is left unattended on public property form more than 48 consecutive hours and for more than seven consecutive days on private property. It is also considered a “total loss” if is “wrecked, dismantled, partially dismantled or inoperative,” according to the ordinance.
John Davis attended Tuesday night’s meeting with the same complaint as his other fellow residents. Davis’ truck was backed into his yard and the license plate was removed. The vehicle was soon after tagged and fined, he said.
Davis’ major concern was that people he didn’t know were coming into his yard. “If they would have come any further, I probably would have shot them,” he said.
In defense of the ordinance Atzenhoffer said, “I think these things are being blown out of proportion. This law is for people who have complete and total disregard for their neighbors.”
According to Atzenhoffer, the nuisance abatement ordinance will pick up and help the parish where the Board of Health leaves off.
Callais agreed, noting that every person who violates the ordinance is given a different time period in which to clean up their specific site. Violators are also given time to petition. After the third unpaid or uncontested ticket a lean is then placed on the violator’s property. The nuisance abatement law has already helped cleanup about 12 sites around the parish, according to Callais.
“We have to handle peoples inconsiderate nature,” Atzenhoffer said.
The ordinance to amend the nuisance abatement law passed 7-2, with Councilmen Lindell Toups and Tommy Lassaigne voting no.
Jared Bailey can be reached at (985) 876-3008 or jared@tri-parishtimes.com
