Board schedules hearing on nuisance property proposal

Published 5:59 pm Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Brookhaven aldermen heard from concernedresidents Tuesday night regarding a proposed nuisance propertyordinance.

    Ward Six Alderman David Phillips has proposed an ordinance inresponse to recurring complaints at Hayes Trailer Park, located onIndustrial Park Road in Phillips’ Ward.

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    Various residents who live near the area told the board they haveheard gunshots on multiple occasions, that one truck near the areawas shot and that loud profanity is common at all times of the dayand night.

    The trailer park is owned by Charles Hayes of Brandon.

    Board members agreed to hold a public meeting about the nuisanceproperty ordinance March 1 at 6:30 p.m. in the city boardroom.

    Phillips pushed to have his ordinance adopted at the last boardmeeting, but several aldermen, including Ward Five’s D.W. Maxwelland Ward Two’s Terry Bates, strongly objected to the ordinance asoverreaching.

    Aldermen assured residents Tuesday night, however, they arecommitted to reaching a solution to ensure the safety of arearesidents.

    “This guy is not taking care of his property at all,” Maxwell saidof Hayes. “The committee that is working on this is going to worksomething out.”

    Phillips, Maxwell and Bates were assigned by Mayor Les Bumgarner toa committee to hammer out a compromise.

    In an interview before the meeting, Phillips expressed optimismthat progress is being made. Phillips said a revision will probablygive property owners more time to craft a plan to remedy theproblem once their property is declared a nuisance.

    Phillips acknowledged eviction can sometimes take months and saidthat fact must be taken into account. Phillips did say, however,that property owners have other options such as hiring securityguards or putting up gates.

    Phillips said he plans to invite area landowners to the publicmeeting to express their side of the issue.