Supervisors Delay Cleanup Decision
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COFFEEVILLE – Yalobusha County supervisors agreed Monday to extend the property cleanup process involving Marty and Wanda Winter, giving the couple until Sept. 8 to address safety concerns at their Highway 51 property before the board considers further action.
The case began June 1 when District 5 Supervisor Gaylon Gray asked the board to begin the statutory cleanup process after receiving repeated complaints about the property at 23138 Highway 51 near Tillatoba. Monday’s public hearing gave the Winters an opportunity to respond before supervisors determine whether the property constitutes a public health or safety nuisance.
Board Attorney Shannon Crow opened the hearing by explaining that Mississippi law allows counties to intervene on private property only when conditions pose a danger to public health or safety.
“The owner can do it themselves if they so choose to clean it up,” Crow said about the cleanup. “Not Augusta National or a golf course condition. But to remove, to do things that’s necessary to remove the danger.”
Gray told those in attendance the hearing was not something the board wanted to do, but said repeated complaints left supervisors with little choice.
“I just want to say this is the most distasteful thing we have to do,” Gray said. “We hate to do it. We’ve done it before. But I’ve had numerous complaints.”
Marty and Wanda Winter acknowledged their property needs attention but told supervisors they have already begun cleaning it. They said many of the vehicles on the property belong to customers of their son’s automotive repair business and disputed suggestions that the property posed an environmental hazard.
“The man from EPA told me there’s not enough you can do about the cars,” Marty Winter said. “They’re not leaking oil. They’re not pouring oil. They’re not doing anything like that on the ground.”
The couple said they have already started removing tires and other items identified as concerns.
“It’s all new stuff, but he’s got it covered, and it don’t look real good,” Marty Winter said about some of the items. “I agree with you. I agree with you 100 percent. It don’t look right.”
Yalobusha County supervisors have begun the legal process that could lead to the cleanup of this property at 23138 Highway 51 near Tillatoba. Officials said the property contains more than 20 abandoned vehicles and other conditions they believe pose a threat to public health.
A significant portion of the hearing centered on an ongoing dispute with a neighboring property owner. The Winters contended many of the complaints originated with that neighbor and described longstanding disagreements involving drainage, runoff and the appearance of the property. They also noted the neighbor had previously contacted the EPA about conditions on the property.
Board President Cayce Washington acknowledged the apparent neighbor dispute but said the county’s responsibility was limited to addressing legitimate safety concerns.
“It sounds like there’s possibly some concerns with neighbors,” Washington said. “I don’t want to get in the middle of that. But because we’ve received complaints, we have a duty.”
Washington stressed that supervisors were not attempting to force the Winters to maintain their property to a neighbor’s standards.
“Well, I think I can safely say we believe in people’s property rights,” he said. “But we also believe in trying to do good by the neighborhood, too.”
Gray echoed that point, telling the couple the county’s authority is limited.
“The county can’t force y’all to make it to your neighbor’s specifications,” Gray said. “All it can do is, like we’re saying, like those tires and maybe things like that.”
Washington said the board’s concern was not whether the property met environmental standards, but whether conditions created potential safety hazards.
“We’re not the environmentalists,” Washington said. “We’re looking at safety concerns.”
Rather than ordering an immediate cleanup, supervisors agreed to continue the hearing until Sept. 8, giving the Winters additional time to reduce clutter and address the conditions that prompted the complaints.
“We’re asking to see if y’all can make a difference in the area there with some of the clutter and the safety concerns,” Washington said.
Gray agreed.
“That’s plenty of time if y’all can work on it,” he said.
Supervisors then voted unanimously to continue the matter until Sept. 8, when they will review the property’s condition before determining whether additional action is warranted.
