Truck Shop Neighbors Are Nuisance, Neighbor Says
Terry Heskett (standing) asked for help from supervisors regarding a neighbor he alleged was operating a trucking shop out of their residence. Heskett lives on County Road 605 in Beat Four. His appeal did not prompt a response from supervisors. –Photo by David Howell
By David Howell
Editor
COFFEEVILLE – In an apparent feud between neighbors on County Road 605, Yalobusha resident Terry Heskett requested help from county officials on 18-wheelers driving on the county road and causing damage.
“Mr. Suggs knows, we can’t keep our roads up in a residential sections when tractor and trailer trucks come in there all the time,” Heskett told District Four Supervisors George Suggs and other county officials during a recessed meeting held last Friday in Coffeeville.
Heskett explained that his neighbors, who operate a logging business, are using the property as a truck shop. He also alleged that oil was not properly disposed and possible environmental hazards on the property.
Although Heskett did not receive any feedback from Suggs or other supervisors, Board Attorney John Crow explained that the issue is a private matter.
“We have been through this same situation before,” Crow told Heskett.
Crow instead recommended that the concerned residents in the neighborhood hire a lawyer and enforce neighborhood covenants as a civil matter.
“The county has full jurisdiction over the roads,” Crow also advised. “If they are tearing up the roads, then they can do something about it,” Crow explained. The veteran attorney then added that the county does not have jurisdiction on other problems voiced by Heskett, including operating a truck shop on the property and noise problems at night.
“If they are living in the house, it shouldn’t be a truck shop,” Heskett added.
“Yes sir, I understand that but we can’t do anything about that,” Crow explained.
“You can go in there and put a sign up, no 18-wheelers. If they were back in there hauling logs it is different,” Heskett continued. “Talk to any logger, they have to put a sign up and when they get through… they are done.”
“Well, it is not that simple,” Crow countered.
“Well it should be that simple. If it is a residential area, there should be no 18-wheelers,” Heskett replied.
“You, as a resident in that subdivision, have a right to question that. Which means hire a lawyer and question that as to whether he is using it for residential purposes. The county does not. We don’t have a connection in there other than the road itself. You have a connection in there because you bought your property with these covenants,” Crow continued.
“I still think they need to stop the trucks from tearing up the roads. The county can do that,” Heskett continued.
“If the county does not have a say-so in who is tearing up the road, then I am paying taxes for nothing,” Heskett told supervisors.
Following a lull he sat back down, telling county officials he would sit down before he got upset.
Other items discussed at the meeting include:
• District One Supervisor Tommy Vaughn rejected bids on a surplus Cat 910 loader. The bids to purchase the loader from District One ranged from $6,510 to $3,900.
“I can’t take that. It is worth more than that to the county,” Vaughn said.
• Approved the purchase of a full-page ad in the Watermelon Carnival Souvenir Program produced by the Water Valley Chamber of Commerce.
• Requested a bid from State Systems, a fire protection company, on inspecting and recharging fire extinguishers at county buildings. Company representative Jimmy Parrish said he had check extinguishers at both courthouses and several were out of date.
• Approved an application requesting a 10 year industrial tax exemption requested by BorgWarner for new equipment added in 2010 in the Water Valley plant.
Tax Assessor/Collector Linda Shuffield said the exemption request was for $772,291.
A second request by BorgWarner to extend an industrial tax exemption already granted was tabled.
“They are requesting an additional five-year exemption,” Shuf-field explained. The request was for investment made during a 2000 expansion at BorgWarner.
“They have already got a 10 year extension and they are asking for another five,” Shuffield explained.
Crow initially advised supervisors that state law only authorizes the county to grant 10 years tax exemption.
“Rather than acting on it now, let me look at it,” Crow requested, as the second request was tabled.
• Approved a request from AT&T giving the company the authority to place fiber cable along County Roads 212 and 87 in District One to serve several cell towers in the area.
“Most of the emphasis now is put on these cell towers,” an AT&T representative told county officials. The fiber cable will allow the cell towers to have 3G and 4G service.
The representative added that DSL service in some areas of the county has been pushed back to the end of the year.
