Unless a change, the head guy there is very nice and dedicated.

But you need to contact them. They are very busy and don't have time to go prowling for violations.

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Keeping it real and to the core of the issue, not the peripherals.

Yes several of us have called, because these people and their kids are a huge problem here. Especially after the mailbox arson incident, we want these people gone.

I had two issues. Both times the head guy came out within 3 days.

One could not be handled on a legal technicality and the other I was referred to the County Environmental Health Dept, which dealt with it.

Kids and mailboxes are not Code Enforcement issues. Those are police issues.

Exactly what are you calling unkempt? Is there a HOA for these homes? If so, that is where you need to be going.

Code Enforcement does not deal with messy homes. They deal with structural and legal usage violations.

Are these homes illegally divided into two domiciles? Code can deal with that.

Are the structures unsafe? Again, code can deal with that.

But messy? They don't deal with that.

If messy to the point of being unhealthy, call the Fayette County Environmental Health Dept.

If just a nuisance and not up to your standards, call the HOA, if there is one, or a lawyer.

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Keeping it real and to the core of the issue, not the peripherals.

How about lawns with tall weeds? Fences that are rotting and falling down? How about trim rotting and falling off of a house?

Several years ago they got onto another elderly neighbor and fined her for the paint on her home, said it was "unsightly". So they do deal with appearances when they want to.

Yeah the mailbox arson thing was definitely a police matter and an FBI matter as well especially if there had been mail in it. Unfortunately the retired couple it happened to are afraid of these kids and didn't call the police. I heard about it through the rumour mill and asked them about it to confirm it. Everyone in the neighborhood seems to have known about it and did nothing at the time. I leave junk mail in my mailbox all the time now, so if this ever happens to me, there will be mail in my mailbox by the time the first cop gets there, and I hear the penalties are steep.

That does not match my experiences with them.

Is there an HOA?

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Keeping it real and to the core of the issue, not the peripherals.

No HoA. But I do believe in the squeaky wheel theory . As you said they are very busy.

Not my experience.

I was not squeaky, but polite. And it got done.

Note on the Structure, it requires 33% to be in bad condition.

I am getting the feeling you have pig neighbors who are just squeaking in under the Codes.

There has to be something they can enforce.

As for the paint, it dealt with more than 33% of the structure and I bet there were other issues as well. You only heard about the paint.

It is frustrating.

The codes for pets is dismal. Pictures, movies or testimony is not goode enough to nail a bad owner's pooch. Their ONE official on duty has to see the crime in action. Absurd!

Too bad no HOA. That would have been an effective tool.

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Keeping it real and to the core of the issue, not the peripherals.

Sec. 42-38. Cleanliness of premises--Generally.
For the purpose of promoting the health, safety and welfare of the people of the city, every owner of a lot or parcel of land lying within 40 feet of any dwelling, house or place of business is required to keep such land cleared of all brush, garbage, garden trash, rubbish, underbrush and debris, weeds and grass in excess of 12 inches in height from the ground, and noxious material of any kind which tends to be a breeding place for mosquitoes, or tends to be a breeding place or haven for snakes or vermin ofany kind or character, or which tends to create a fire hazard and endanger the lives and property of the citizens of the city, or which tends to create a nuisance or other unsightly or unsanitary condition. The above 40 feet limitation shall be exclusive of any public right-of-way.

Are they violating this ordinance?

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Keeping it real and to the core of the issue, not the peripherals.

ARTICLE VI. UNSAFE STRUCTURES

Sec. 18-186. Definitions.
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Unsafe buildings means all buildings or structures within the city which have any of the following defects:
(1) Those in which the interior walls or other vertical structural members list, lean or buckle to such an extent that a plumbline passing through the center of gravity falls outside of the base of such wall;
(2) Those which, exclusive of the foundation, show 33 percent or more of damage or deterioration of the supporting members, or 50 percent of damage or deterioration of a nonsupporting enclosing or outside wall or covering;
(3) Those which have improperly distributed loads upon the floors or roofs, or in which the floors or roofs are overloaded, or which have insufficient strength to be reasonably safe for the purpose for which they are used, or intended to be used;
(4) Those which have been damaged by fire, wind or other causes, so as to have become dangerous to life, safety, morals, or the general health and welfare of the occupants or the people of the city;
(5) Those which have become or are so dilapidated, decayed, unsafe, unsanitary, or which so utterly fail to provide the amenities essential to decent living that they are unfit for human habitation, or are likely to cause sickness or disease, so as to work injury to the health, morals, safety, or general welfare of those living in such buildings, or those who may live in such buildings;
(6) Those having light, air and sanitation facilities which are inadequate to protect the health, morals, safety or general welfare of human beings who live or may live in them;
(7) Those having inadequate facilities for egress in case of fire or panic, or those having insufficient stairways, elevators, fire escapes or other means of communication;
(8) Those which have parts which are so attached that they may fall and injure members of the public or property;
(9) Those which, because of their condition, are unsafe, unsanitary or dangerous to the health, morals, safety or general welfare of the people of the city; and
(10) Those which exist in violation of any ordinance of the city, so as to constitute a nuisance, and to be unsafe, unsanitary or dangerous to the health, morals, safety or general welfare of the people of the city.
(Code 1980, § 5-60)
Cross references: Definitions generally, § 1-2.

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Keeping it real and to the core of the issue, not the peripherals.

It doesn't look like fences are covered here, and I haven't measured the grass it just looks really rough. Thanks for your help.

Yes Mudcat, John has lived here for 33 years. During that time like anyone else, he has had his share of good and bad. Such as having an almost fatal heart attack a few years back. Also he lost his daughter, the youngest of 2 children to cancer at the age of 19. He would slowly and patiently walk his fatally ill daughter on the cart paths before she died (as far as she could manage) as if he wanted to be sure if it were her last walk on this earth, he would be with her. No matter what people say about Wynnmeade, John has never given up on it and continues like so many of us, to do what isn't always easy, and "stick with" our community.

I can appreciate the people that have shown compassion in responding to negative comments about Wynnmeade and it will always be necessary for us to speak up and speak out because of the continuos scrutiny. It doesn't hurt...It actually helps. That is why things will continue to improve for us.

It is because Wynnemeade indeed use to be different?

We moved here 20 years ago. At that time it was known as an investment area, meaning renters.

We started looking at it for home to buy and quickly decided it was not for us. A lot of unkempt homes.

And, at the time, the big three, we remember, from the police reports, were Twiggs Corner, Gables Court and Wynnemeade.

It takes a long time for a reputation to go away. Even when no longer deserved.

Getting rid of Section 8 housing helped a lot. I believe.

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Keeping it real and to the core of the issue, not the peripherals.