City clean up coincides with enforcement
By Lori Mellinger editor@bullardnews.com

Today, the City of Bullard is offering a citywide clean up to help offset the aggressive approach city leaders are now taking towards code enforcement.

In conjunction with Olympic Waste Services, the city is offering a drop off for bulk items beside the city's warehouse, located behind the library.

"We've had code regulations in place for years, but we're taking a different approach in order to keep the city clean and attractive," City Manager Larry Morgan said.

In the past, Morgan said, it was up to citi- -zens to report violations - or sometimes the city manager or crew would see violations and report them.

"Now it's going to be a concerted effort - along with the citizens ' diligence - we're going to be watching using people from our office and the police department, " he said.

Before that happens, however, he wants to give residents a chance to clean up themselves.

"We understand that time slips away, items are accumulated and not really thought about. But it's a violation," Morgan said.

And he added that if violators will call his office, the city will work with them as best they can.

Citizens are encouraged to bring brush and yard waste, bulky items, household items, furniture, outdoor grills, dishwashers, paper and cardboard, lawn mowers, construction debris, wood and metal, mattresses and hot water heaters and any appliance that doesn't use freon.

And while Morgan said this is only a partial list, there are some items - because of state regulations that cannot be accepted.

This includes liquids of any kind, whole tires - they must be split or quartered, oil or oil filters, refrigerators, A/C units or any appliance containing freon, lead acid batteries, hazardous waste, chemicals or pesticides, pain or paint buckets - only if paint is completely dried and free of liquid, medical waste of any kind or dead animals.

"We're not trying to be heavy-handed in any way, but when a city grows in the way ours is, we want to make sure it remains attractive and not in violation," he said.

Most of the ordinances have to do with junk cars, debris

and high weeds and grass.

"The first thing we do is

send out a letter and give property owners a chance to clean up," Morgan said.

If the matter is ignored, it could result in a court date and fines until the problems are corrected.