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Neighbor questions progress of junkyard cleanup
(by Joseph Koziol Jr. - August 13, 2009)
Neighbor questions progress of junkyard cleanup
By JOSEPH KOZIOL JR.
Progress continues to be made in the cleanup of a junkyard in Chardon Township, but it hasn't been enough for its closest neighbor.
Clark Road resident Thomas Woods, who lives next door to the junkyard at 11389 Clark Road, said he is fed up with waiting for the property to be cleaned. "It's been 40 years," he said. "I've raised my children, my grandchildren and now my great-grandchildren."
Mr. Woods was responding to an update on the cleanup by the Geauga County Health Department.
The update said progress continues to be made, although it was slowed by winter and spring weather. Attempts to clean up the property, owned by Robert and Salli Echols, has been ongoing for four years. The property has been divided into quadrants by health officials to measure progress in the cleanup.
"Albeit at a slower pace than the previous inspection, we witnessed that these two quadrants have seen further reduction of the amount of solid waste that resides in them. Overall, these two quadrants have seen approximately a two-thirds reduction of the total amount of waste. The solid waste that still remains in these two quadrants primarily consists of abandoned vehicles, vehicle parts and scrap metal," the letter from the health department said.
The two quadrants referred to in the letter comprise the rear part of the property, which was deemed to be the worst in terms of junk stored. An area to the front of the property, next to Mr. Woods house, has been designated as the staging area for removal of the junk.
Trustees have said in the past that the property actually looks worse than before the start of the cleanup, because much of the junk has been moved to the front of the house in preparation for removal.
Mr. Woods said he believes the process has extended beyond the deadline originally established for the cleanup.
Trustee Steven Borawski said, while the issue has dragged on for four years, this board of trustees has done more toward getting the property cleaned than any trustee board that preceded it. A court order for the cleanup was first issued by the courts in 2004.
Trustee Michael Brown said the township had handled a cleanup of a property on Olmar Drive in 2006, but the Echols property was much more extensive in terms of junk.
While the Olmar property cost in the neighborhood of $9,000 to clean, Mr. Brown said, it likely would cost "six figures" for the Echols' property.
He said it may not look like much progress is being made, because the junk has been moved to the front of the property, but he asked for Mr. Woods' patience in the matter. He said the township has to let the health department cleanup run its course. The only other option, he said, is for the township to come in and do it.
Former Trustee Donald Welker said that while serving as trustee he had worked with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency on the problem. That agency, in turn, recommended that the township work with the local health department to remedy the problem.
Health inspectors reported that they anticipate further progress now that the weather is more cooperative.
Inspectors also said that no new junk has been brought to the property since the cleanup began.
"The next re-inspection will be made at the beginning of November 2009," inspector Eric Robb said. "Due to the nicer weather in the summer months, we expect the pace of solid-waste removal to have increased by the time we do the next inspection."
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