City on target with plan to clean up neighborhoods
Few things can be as annoying
as a neighbor with seemingly
no concern about his or her
property. Whether it’s a neighbor
who has a dislike for mowing
the grass, or one who enjoys
disposing of large appliances
on the front porch, such behavior
is an annoyance for anyone
who lives nearby.
That’s why it’s a great idea
for McMinnville officials to
think about hiring an employee
aimed at enforcing those types
of codes violations. If junked
cars make a neighborhood look
bad, and rules are in the books
to handle such a situation, it
makes sense to enforce the
codes.
It’s a winning move for the
city, and its residents, especially
if the job can squeeze into the
20042005 fiscal budget.
The ultimate goal is to spruce
up the appearance of McMinnville.
Much lip service is given
to this being the Nursery Capital
of the World, and most people
would like the place we all
call home to look nice.
Nursery stock can fill the city,
but if rusting cars fill the property
behind those trees, it defeats
the purpose. The end result is still an eyesore.
And while people should
have certain freedoms as to
what they can do with their
land, that freedom shouldn’t
adversely affect the property
values of surrounding homeowners.
For the most part, McMinnville
residents are conscious of
how their yards look. From
landscaping, to mulch, to
flower beds, McMinnville
homes radiate with natural
beauty.
But as the saying goes, it’s the
few bad apples that spoil it for
the rest of us. One unsightly
yard can make an unpleasant
statement about an entire street
and that’s not fair to other residents.
Creating a job for a property
inspector is an appropriate solution.
The job itself will be a
delicate balancing act and one
with its share of headaches.
Any time you have to tell someone
to clean up their property,
there’s sure to be some grief.
At the same time, the job is
needed and city officials are
wise to explore that option. If it
makes McMinnville look better,
we all benefit.