Those eyesores that some readers are so proudly defending affect everyone?’s property values and quality of life. Many of our residents live next door to that ?‘eyesore?’ and have to put up with the overflow of rats, raccoons and even fleas that infest many properties. Evidently you don?’t live next door to a house with 25 cats that use the exterior of your house as a litter box. I don?’t consider a car on blocks in the front yard a yard ornament.

I agree that there are properties whose owners need a helping hand maintaining their property. They may be elderly or disabled. However, there are many agencies to help in Abilene, starting with the next door neighbor. But, at what point when the owners are unable to care for their property, but, they don?’t have family, don?’t have friends, and don?’t want neighborly help do you call the city? Many of these homeowners are abled bodied and just don?’t think the City has a right to tell them to clean up their property. Calling the City isn?’t tattling on the neighbors, it brings the property to the city?’s attention, then THE CITY, that you pay taxes to support, deals with the problem. Code Enforcement officers don?’t just write citations, they give the property owner time to clean up. And, they can refer the owner to various social services agencies that can lend a hand. But THE CITY can MAKE the property owner clean up, because every house in Abilene is part of an entire community. How you care or don?’t care for your property affects everyone in the community.

We have many Neighborhood Associations, social service agencies and just plain old good neighbors willing to help. However, NONE of these agencies have the authority to MAKE the property owner dispose of the mattresses, old couches, junk cars, appliances, tires, debris and trash that ?‘decorate?’ many yards. Personally, I?’m not about to walk up to a strangers door and say, ?“need some help getting rid of those bags of trash decorating your front yard?” Anymore, than I?’m going to walk up to that drug house and say ?“do you know what you?’re doing is illegal??”. Calling code enforcement and reporting violations is no different than calling the police department and calling in a crime. Be a neighbor and a citizen of the community, pick up the phone and help your community.

Obviously, there are many ready to come to defense of the ?‘eyesore?’ property. If your property is clean, then what are you worried about? If they do publish a picture of your house surely you?’re proud of how it looks, aren?’t you? If your property does appear under ?‘eyesore of the week?’ it must be the neighbors fault, the city?’s fault, because your yard doesn?’t bother anyone, does it?




By Ms. Neighbor

Who to call

I don't know how many times I've called about the house at 766 Jeanette, nothing seems to be able to be done to get ride of the racoons, rats and bugs coming out of this empty house.

By Jeanette St. Resident

Editoral

'Eyesore' good idea
Letter to the Editor

July 29, 2006
Kudos to the Reporter News for ''Eyesore of the Week.'' The Old Town Abilene Neighborhood Association has had an ''Eyesore'' column on it's Web site for over a year. And yes, it has made a huge difference in our neighborhood.

While I realize one person's trash is another's treasure, you do not necessarily want to look at that treasure in your neighborhood. Code Enforcement has three officers and the zoning department has none. Because of this, the city can only respond to complaints by residents.

If you are tired of looking at that mess in your neighborhood, call Code Enforcement at 676 6241. While the City needs to hire more code enforcement officers, it's also the city residents' fault for putting up with the mess. Everyone wants to blame someone else for Abilene's appearance, but it's everyone's fault for not doing something about it.

Neighborhood Associations have been instrumental in helping clean up Abilene. They have arranged for clean up days in their neighborhoods (sponsored by Keep Abilene Beautiful and Sanitation) and have helped many elderly, disabled or ''just don't have a pickup'' residents clean up their yards. Many residents don't realize the Recycle Center will take many items free. They will also pick up old appliances for free and junk dealers will haul vehicles off your property for free!

I think the ''Eyesore of the Week'' is going to generate a lot of interest. Good going Reporter-News, for being willing to take the heat that will come with this!

Amber Grund

Abilene


By Amber

Go City Council

The nuisance ordinances will prove the mettle of the new city council. I hope they stick by their guns and the comprehensive plan and finally clean up Abilene. PLEASE strengthen the ordinances and help the city clean up! What a misnomer to call junk cars, trash, appliances, what all, in the yards nuisances! A nuisance are the cats in the neighborhood eating the butterflies and birds in my yard, the dog next door barking all night.
Dead trees, junk cars, boxes of junk, stacked in the yards hurt my property value and draws vermin that then come into my house. It's a toss up whether my front or back yard has the worse view. How many visitors and people from Dyess stationed here over the years, have not returned because of the lack of appearance ordinances? How many people have moved out of the older areas of town because they gave up trying to improve their neighborhood? What's the point in remodeling your home and landscaping your yard, when the neighbor has dead trees and and 20 appliances in the front yard?
With close to 40% rentals in our city, the City & Residents can offer cleanups, from here to eternity and until the city MAKES the PROPERTY OWNERS responsible for keeping their property clean, it won't happen.
And, finally the City needs to put its money where it's mouth is. Stop making residents responsible for reporting violations and get PROACTIVE!! Either hire more code enforcement & zoning officers or utilize the meter readers, police and other city workers to report violations. Code enforcement officers could still 'work' the case, but let's take pressure off the next door neighbor to complain! I'm perfectly willing to help my neighborhood clean up, but I want the city to inform them of the ordinances, not me!.


By Ms. Q