Lack of Enforcement of Langlade County Zoning
and Junk Ordinances
My comment is on the lack of enforcement by the County for
ordinances they passed. One is the Junk Ordinance which lists
the definitions of “junk”, specifically spells out what is not
allowed, and specifically spells out the consequences and
options that the County can take to enforce this ordinance.
As I’m sure many other readers agree, there are many
properties in this County that are cluttered with multiples of
junk vehicles, campers, cages, tires… and the list goes on.
With the high price for metals these days, there is no reason
why cleanup should not take place. If a resident refuses to
comply with the Junk Ordinance, the Zoning Office has the
option to get a court order for the clean up; there are recycle
businesses that could go in and clean up the property – and
the property owner would be billed – if payment is refused,
the cost can be assessed to their tax bill. Before moving here,
we contacted the Zoning Administrator and voiced our
concern about the junk that abounds in this county; we were
told about the Ordinance and that the County is cracking
down. Since moving here, we have gotten nowhere in trying
to get the County to follow their own ordinance – we have
been on the agenda of both our Town and the Land Use &
Planning Committee. Our Township followed the directions
given to them by the County, but when it came time for the
Zoning Office to hold up their end of the Ordinance – they
refused to get an order for property cleanup – and the
property in question remains an eyesore. When I stated to
the Zoning Administrator that the Ordinance is very misleading
to people relocating here, giving us the idea that the County is
cracking down and wants to stop these junk collectors, I was
told that if I think it’s misleading, then the County should do
away with the ordinance because they consider it the lowest
priority anyway. What kind of answer is that! The Junk
Ordinance was passed by the County Board, not just the
Land Use & Planning Committee!
The Land Use & Planning Committee also has authority to
enforce the Zoning Ordinance – which can control the number
of animals on a property, depending on its zoning status. I live
next to a property that is zoned AFR which has strict
instructions as to the number of animals allowed per acre.
I again met with this Committee numerous times, as well as
talking to the Zoning Administrator. A site visit was finally
made, but no followup was done to force a reduction in the
animal population on the property in question. I have no
problem with people having more animals then the Zoning
Ordinance allows if the animals are provided decent shelter,
food, and have the amount of land defined by the Zoning
Ordinance vs. being confined in areas so small they can hardly
walk around. That is blatant animal neglect! While I am well
aware that the Zoning Office does not get involved with animal
neglect, they definitely have the power to enforce the County
Zoning Ordinance, and by doing that, it would often time get
animals out of neglect situations. But again, the Zoning
Administrator refuses to enforce this County Ordinance. Even
when I told her I could have homes waiting to take in animals
that would be removed so the County did not have to worry
about that part of it, nothing was done. Again, a site visit was
made, but there was no followup or enforcement, and many
of the animals on this property continue to live in filthy,
cramped conditions.
By the way, it is the same property that is in blatant violation
of both the Junk and Zoning Ordinances.
I wish there were many more people in this County that are
sick and tired of looking at the glaring eyesores of junk – or
seeing animals kept in unhealthful and stressful conditions -
problems that can be addressed through the County
Ordinances in place.
..
Tags: antigo junk ordinance, langlade county zoning & junk ordinances
Although the price of scrap was extremely high over the summer, it is actually at 20-year lows right now. Call the junkyards – they will tell you.
Sounds like a good spot for a visit from the “Hidden Places” crew from the Antigo Daily Journal.
Whoops…. That would be “investigative reporting”, which is a subcategory of “reporting”, which requires “reporters” to ask questions and dig out facts that have not been posted to the sheriff’s or police blotter or recorded in a county board or city council meeting minutes…. Too much of a stretch?
I completely agree with you! Some of the places in the county and city are horrendous. They don’t enforce the ordinances any better in the city either. I live on a very small block and three of the fifteen houses and properties are disgusting, including my neighbors.
Good point Russ. I took our aluminum cans into Cousnous (spelling) and was shocked to find cans were only going for 23 cents per pound. I came away with a little over a $1.25.
Its a free country, you should be able to do whatever the hell you want on your property. As long as it is not endangering others or affecting other people’s lives. Leaking anti-freeze, or oil in ground water from a junked car, a pile of garbage infested with rats, Fridges or freezers laying out in the open where kids can get trapped should require action. If there are 100 animals in a house and you can’t open your windows in the summer because of the smell.. Then you have a reason to complain..
You have to take into consideration and accept that Antigo is a Welfare town. You can’t force someone to pay $5 grand to fix up a house. Most people do not have the funds to do it especially in this economy. You can add a clean up bill to city taxes.. It might be years before those taxes get paid.. The city has enough foreclosures and vacant homes already to deal with.
“Simplemind” brings up an important point — money could be a factor. Another factor in such issues is simple ability — physical handicap or mental limitations may play a role. Someone in persistent depression is not going to be a neat-freak, and will not be cooperative if approached. Some folks deserve a visit from Social Services more than from the Zoning Office.
A quick check on Google for “neighborhood cleanup campaign” shows that most community intervention efforts for cleanups are inspired by citizens who had local elected officials with a sense of service. An organized campaign, sanctioned and run by local government, seems to be much more effective than one or two citizens complaining about a troubled neighbor. Maybe it’s time to hold the elected officials’ feet to the fire.
Too bad we don’t have an activist newspaper with the guts to stoke up the flames….
I know sometimes I sound like an idiot on here.. LOL.. but maybe there could be more block grants set up. And maybe we could do all do some voluteer work to help out our neightborhood. Instead of b*tching about the neighbor who has a junked washer, dryer, or old appliances laying in someone’s back yard. Why not volunteeer to haul it away?
I didn’t mean to sound cocky and say that its your property you can do whatever you want with it.. But Antigo had some stupid proposals for ordinances in the last 25 to 30 years. Like banning birdfeeders (neighbors didn’t like bird poop), banning satellite dishes (of course it was Star Cablevision that wanted it to pass but Satellite dishes at that time were 12 to 14 feet round), banning wind chimes, and at one time there was a discussion about not allowing yard lights to be over 60 watts. I guess someone couldn’t see the stars at night.. The problem is how do you enforce petty issues?
I moved here to enjoy the beauty of this countryside and my surroundings. Allowing people to keep and add to their junk collection definitely affects others – by taking away from their view – and by affecting their property value. I don’t care how nice of a house or property you have – people will think twice before moving next to a junk heap. I don’t have the money to put up a lot of trees or fencing to block my view of old busses, campers, cars, piles of tires, a step van, etc. – and why should I have to? There is nothing physically wrong with these people – they are just lazy and don’t care. Because of the many animals they have on a small amount of land, and the conditions they are forced to live in, I have been concerned about rats and such and called the Health Dept – but was told they don’t get involved unless someone becomes ill. If I would have known about the lack of enforcement, I never would have moved here, and as long as it took me to find a good job, I’m not about to give that up and relocate again – why should I even have to consider that?? Why doesn’t the County do its job? If they did crack down, maybe people would think twice about keeping a “junkyard”.
At the risk of sounding like someone thinking logically let me say that it sounds to me that what we have here is another political problem. The problem is that our elected officials are not doing what they were elected to do. The solution to this problem is not the once-every-four-year-political-activists that vote the incumbents in because they are incumbents. The solution would be people that care, people that are not afraid to get involved, people that are proud enough to use their own names, people that will speak where they can be heard. No heroes were born of this blog, so no matter how hard you thump that stump, or beat your chest, the only ears that hear your noise are deaf.
Get involved, if the possible results don’t scare you. Talk to real people, your neighbors, your friends, your politicians, your police. Let them know that you are unhappy and will not be silent until you are happy. Find a newspaper that cares about this community and understands what hones journalism is, and invite them to Antigo. If you really care about this community then do something about it.
This has been a public service message brought to you by Smackwater in the hope that it may inspire you do something worthwhile.
Smackwater, I would love to agree with you but according to your reasoning, I am deaf. “No heroes were born of this blog, so no matter how hard you thump that stump, or beat your chest, the only ears that hear your noise are deaf.”
Fed Up, I too must be deaf, for I have been sitting with my ear against this blog for an hour and I still hear nothing. I think I will thump the stump even harder for awhile. Let me know when you can hear it.
Simplemind-Is there seriously a ban on wind chimes in the city? I am breaking some rule if there really is.
I have quite a few wind chimes inside & outside my city home, oh well.
I’d be willing to develop and market a line of foam-rubber wind chimes for folks who like the idea of wind chimes but can’t stand the sound….
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