Trashy Neighborhoods Start The Decline(posted Aug 3) Seeing trash accumulate in the neighborhood is one of the first signs that a neighborhood is heading for decline, according to Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Environmental Enforcer Kevin Kinnee. Kinnee addressed the Eagledale Neighborhood Association members about the growing epidemic of trash piles amassing in the city, especially with increase in vacant properties. "Marion County has 8,000 vacant properties," he said. Kinnee searches through trash piles and dumpsters to locate names of those that are committing the illegal dumpling. Illegal dumping is depositing trash on someone's property without consent. This is different than neglected property that is committed by the property owner to his own property. Usually this happens when a tenant leaves behind his possessions and throws the junk in the yard. It can also be the landlord. The landlord will haul all of the tenant's possessions out to the curb to avoid paying tipping fees at the landfill. The City of Indianapolis requires the trash to be in totes which has a capacity of only four trash bags, so if the landlord can't squeeze it into his neighbor's tote, which is illegal, it usually remains on the street. He would like to see the city provide more tote cans because most people will not pay an additional $48 to have the second can. Kinnee said many illegal dumpers know it is wrong so they scratch their names off in hope of not being traced back to them. Fines can range up to $2,500. Kinnee treats the illegal dumping like any other police investigation. He looks for clues to develop a pattern to identify the perpetrator. His thorough investigations also help him predict when they will dump again. Kinnee is one of two officers that investigate illegal dumping and neglected properties. He said it is often difficult to track down the owner because they are not required to leave a forwarding address with the recorder's and assessor's office. He encouraged residents to contact their local city county councilor about enacting tougher ordinances by requiring forwarding addresses as well as cracking down on illegal dumping. He would like to see an ordinance that would require owners to restrict access to their vacant properties to prevent dumping. "Right now we have a dog with no teeth," he said in reference to the lack of ordinances to address these issues. He also noted the neighborhood association could take action by collecting the salvageable items from the trash heaps for recycling. He said metals and aluminum are highly valued and could be sold to scrap metal businesses. It could serve as a fund raiser for their non-profit association in addition to cleaning up the neighborhood. He encouraged associations to have garage sales from the bags of clothes that are illegally dumped. He also gave a crime prevention tip, saying that placing empty electronic boxes for trash pick up is like posting a sign in the yard "I just purchased a 37 inch flat TV Screen." Eagledale Neighborhood Association members are vigilante about zoning and trash issues because it helps to slowdown crime. Zoning Enforcer Derek Bland left the meeting to check out the association's complaint of a food vendor conducting business at 34th and Georgetown. Bland said there are a growing number of transit food vendors setting up shop in strip mall parking lots. He said they are required to get a transit merchant license in addition to board of health requirements. He returned to the meeting to say the business was cited for failing to have the proper licenses. |
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