Sand Mountain Reporter

One Albertville councilman is pressing the issue of cleanup by proposing no fewer than seven ordinance changes designed to improve the city’s image by closing loopholes.

City Councilman Chuck Ellis wants to strengthen ordinances related to inoperable vehicles, trash, tire storage, furniture on porches, Christmas lights and property maintenance.

The first-term councilman is proposing a 30-day limit on storage of vehicles at repair shops before deeming them inoperable. Currently, the ordinance doesn’t have an enforceable deadline.

His other suggestions include violations for:

• placing loose trash in receptacles;

• storing tires outside an enclosed building;

• placing indoor furniture on porches;

• displaying Christmas lights after Jan. 31;

• and failing to perform routine maintenance on buildings and structures.

Ellis referred to an initiative touted by Mayor Lindsey Lyons during the election campaign.

“Remember PIP — pride in property – that’s what it’s all about,” Ellis said. “That’s something Lindsey talked a lot about. To me, that means simple things like a garbage ordinance that makes people put their loose trash items in bags before they bring them to the curb. A lot of people have brought to my attention and the mayor’s attention that the sanitation trucks are having loose garbage. The garbage truck driver is doing the best he can. Putting your loose trash in bags is common sense. Should we have to tell people to do that?”

Ellis said his goal is to provide a cleaner city for the citizens, which was one of the top issues during the last election campaign.

“Let’s find out what type of ordinances have loopholes in them,” he said. “Sometimes those ordinances are just missing one sentence. It’s just a matter of taking the ordinances and revising them.”

Ellis said he rode with the city ordinance enforcement officer last week and noted a number of problems in Latino neighborhoods. He said education is the key.

“It’s just a matter of letting them know,” he said. “Once they knew there was a problem, they responded to it. I don’t know if we have reached out as much as we could.”

In his proposal requiring residents to perform routine maintenance on their property, Ellis wants to create a seven-person ordinance advisory committee to whom residents could appeal their cases.

During a work session Monday night, Ellis hinted to his fellow council members that he intends to remain outspoken.

“I’m a strong believer in speaking my convictions,” he said.

Ellis said his intent is not to upset other council members, but to gauge the pulse of the people by floating issues publicly via the media.

“That’s what the people expect,” he said.

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Serving Albertville and the Sand Mountain region

Publisher: Ben Shurett

1603 Progress Drive
Albertville, Alabama 35950

Tel: 256-840-3000 | Email

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