Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Emmet Residents Ask Council To Mow Lots

There wasn't much to the Emmet City Council meeting Wednesday, July 12, until it adjourned.

In fact, the council was only in session eight minutes taking care of the city's business.

But, shortly after the meeting was over, several residents unhappy with overgrown lots voiced their displeasure to the board.

Gary Muldrew said there were vacant lots in Emmet where the city hasn't bothered mowing at all this year. Those living in the area don't like it, he told the council, and are tired of having to live with it.

Emmet Mayor Dale Booker said these lots are private property and pointed out the city can't legally go onto this land and mow it with city equipment.

Muldrew said Booker has done nothing for Emmet since taking office in January, while the people have been trying to get things done.

He told the council these lots pose danger to surrounding property in case of fire. "We shouldn't have to suffer because people aren't keeping their property up."

Councilman Dick Snell said the city could mow the lots and charge the owners for the work done.

However, Emmet, at this time, doesn't have an ordinance on the books requiring people to keep their property mowed, and, therefore, has no legal recourse in the matter.

It was pointed out this problem exists in other cities around Emmet as well, but those cities have ordinances where the absentee owners can be notified, the city do the work necessary, then, if the owner doesn't pay, place a lien on the property.

Booker said the city cannot legally use tax dollars to mow private property, and the residents should be complaining to the owners. "We've tried, and it's done no good."

Muldrew responded saying the city has claimed its equipment needed to be replaced, and this has been done. But, instead of cleaning these lots, the city has been mowing and clearing ditches.

The sidearm tractor, Booker said, is actually owned by the Emmet Water Department, though it is also used for street work at times.

"You're supposed to figure out how to take care of this situation," Muldrew said. "You need to figure a way to charge these people and clean their property. We don't want to live like that. We want these vacant lots cut."

On a number of occasions Booker reminded those present the council meeting had formally adjourned, and was listening to these complaints as a courtesy.

He reminded those there the city has no control over private property, saying the city won't spend money to clean up these lots.

However, after being challenged to clean up a lot he owns, Booker said he tried to clean it up for a trailer park, but the residents threw a fit. "If I can't use the land to make money," he said, "why should I clean it up?"

But, he gave Street Superintendent Frank Faulkner $100 to get his lot mowed, saying the city will mow lots if it's paid to do so.

He went further, saying the rest of Emmet will get cleaned up, but the people won't like it because it's going to cost them money, possibly fines and jail time.

Before the situation could deteriorate further, he said the meeting had long been adjourned and told the council to leave.

During the regular session, though, he told the panel the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality has returned the city's application for sewage discharge. With a few minor changes to the application, he said, the ADEQ will approve it and the city will receive a conditional 1-month sewage discharge permit.

This permit is renewable for five years.

Continuing with the sewage problems, he said one of the pumps in the sewer pond can't be repaired and must be replaced. It cost the city $3,000 to get the other one fixed.

When the repaired pump was reinstalled, it was discovered one of the starters was out and needs to be fixed as well.

At this time, Booker said, the city has one starter keeping one pump going in the sewer pond.

Turning to the topic of a new well, he said the Rural Development Agency has prepared the paperwork for the city to get the well drilled.

As soon as the paperwork has been completed and approved, the city can begin work on getting the well up and running.