A proposed County ordinance to prohibit blight will be discussed during a public hearing on April 14. Later in the meeting Council is expected to consider giving the proposal its final approval.

The meeting will be held at 6 p.m. in the Government Complex on Columbia Road in Winnsboro.

Following a hour and a half discussion of various aspects of the measure Monday night, Council Chairman David Ferguson asked his fellow Council members to carefully examine the proposal and to submit any requested change to County Administrator Phil Hinely. Using the requested changes, a final draft of the ordinance will be written.

The Proposal

The proposed ordinance would regulate abandoned buildings, mobile homes and manufactured homes, regulate public nuisances and regulate abandoned, dismantled, junked, wrecked or inoperative vehicles in unincorporated parts of the County.

According to County Administrator Phil Hinely, the proposal is a long - term approach,

"Abandoned homes and abandoned vehicles have always been a problem, but with the onset of the drug culture, especially in abandoned homes, it gives a seedy, derelict aspect to the community which the community doesn't want,” he said.

The proposed ordinance reads. “A guilty plea or judgment by the Fairfield County Magistrate’s Office shall be punishable by a fine of no more than $500 or imprisonment not to exceed 30 days. Each day of violation hall constitute a separate offense.”

Inability by a resident to pay the fines and for the removal of the car or building, Hinely said, is an issue that must be dealt with when it arises.

Enforcement will be through the Fairfield County Planning and Zoning Office.

Comments

Planning and Zoning administrator Ron Stowers made a detailed presentation of the ordinance during a County Council work session.

“Basically we are going to operate on a complaint basis,” he said. “If no complaints are called in before the County code enforcement officer, we will not have anybody riding the roads.

If a home is being considered as possibly abandoned, the County will write the owner of record to obtain information about the status of the residence.

No water or electricity in a mobile house, the proposal provides, would be a way of determining whether the residence is abandoned.

Councilwoman Mary Lynn Kinley asked about whether the statute would cover situations in which people are living in houses with no water or electricity.

“You are talking about occupied properties,” County Administrator Phil Hinely said. “Then you get into a minimum housing ordinance with standards for the entire County. This is an effort to get rid of abandoned houses. They turn into crack houses.”

If someone is living in a house that is seen as possibly substandard, Hinely said, the County would work with them in dealing with the situation.

Ferguson believes the abandoned car problem in the County will be easily solved.

An abandoned junk vehicle means any vehicle damaged so as to not comply with state or federal safety regulations, incapable of self - propulsion, does not display a current license plate or is partially dismantled if retained on the premises for more than 72 hours whether for repair or not. This does not include a vehicle, only one allowed, that the owner is using for parts where he is reconditioning or repairing a classic or antique vehicle.

“I?think there are folks in the County right now who will tow them as long as you give them to them,” he said. “I think we are basically talking about homes, because I don’t think cars are going to be a problem.”