Opinion

LONG-IGNORED CODE VIOLATIONS MAY BE ADDRESSED BY CITY

The word is out that the new mayor and city council will soon begin taking action against violators of the zoning and city code ordinances. Such action is long overdue.

Junk cars on residential lots; wrecked trailers and vehicles on the railroad right-of-way; appliances, furniture, and other merchandise routinely placed on the city's sidewalks for sale.....these are violations of the city code, yet for years the city has ignored the problem.

That, in itself, is a problem. Old habits die hard, and a sense of "entitlement" develops from benign neglect, even when an established way of doing business is illegal. Look for major outcries from habitual scofflaws if our mayor and council are serious, and if the city judge backs them up.

The mayor and council have their work cut out for them. So does the judge. We will have to wait and see just how serious they are.

The wait has already been too long.

(The following photographs were made recently. They illustrate some of the problems resulting from "selective" code enforcement and zoning in Royston).

"I HEARD A CRASH ON THE HIGHWAY, BUT I NEVER HEARD NOBODY PRAY."
(Lyrics from an old country gospel song.)

Junk on the railroad right-of-way is getting worse. The railroad says the federal government controls, the Fed lawyer in D.C. says the city zoning can apply so long as the railroad passage is not impeded. (We have the number). The ball appears to be in the city's court. What can (or will) the city do?

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME (UNFORTUNATELY)

In this residential area, on this residential lot, next door to the beautifully restored Dr. Brown house in the background, sit fifteen to twenty junk cars, wreckers, and RVs. This has gone on for years. (By the way, is this not still a residential lot?)

(Under the code, the city may impose a fine of up to $1,000 for each junk car that won't run that is stored on a residential lot. There's potential "gold" to be mined by the city!)

IT'S SPRING! ANYBODY WANNA BUY A BOAT?

Some of these boats have been here for quite a while. If the owner has a land lease from the railroad, what can the city do to get the junk cleaned out of them or the junk cars moved? We would like to know.

NEARER? MY GOD! TO THEE?

This convenience store, which sells alcohol, has been around for some years. That's New Hope Baptist Church nearby. We have always wondered if this store met code and distance requirements from the church when it was built, or if, perhaps, the property owner obtained "selective " zoning. Anyone who knows the background is welcome to contact us.

TRAILER FOR SALE OR RENT.....ZONING VARIANCE WORTH....FIFTY CENT?

(Our apologies to Roger Miller)

This might be an example of "selective" (and possibly illegal) zoning variance. The trailer was moved in during the past month. It does not appear to meet code (age and/or condition) for newly-placed trailers in the city. A neighbor's complaint was met with the rebuff that the owner had obtained written permission from the mayor. What's the story here?