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Junk car concerns expressed
Published Thursday, June 26, 2008
Photo by Tom Hintgen
Pelican Rapids area residents packed the public library meeting room Wednesday evening during the first of four junk car informational gatherings.
Pelican Rapids area residents expressed concerns Wednesday evening about the proposed Otter Tail County Board of Commissioners junk car ordinance proposal. Proponents, however, also expressed their views during the first of four information gatherings held at the Pelican Rapids Public Library.
“As county government, we’re here to act in the people’s best interests,” county Solid Waste Director Mike Hanan said. “We want to not only provide information about the proposed ordinance, but to also receive input from residents throughout the county.”
Subsequent informational meetings, all beginning at 6:30 p.m., will be held this evening at Parkers Prairie City Hall, July 9 at the County Offices, New York Mills, and July 10 at the Government Services Center, Fergus Falls.
If an ordinance were established for junk cars and other items, following the four public informational meetings, a license would be required if a party had more than five junk autos, or junk equivalent to the same space as five junk cars.
“We already have inspections from state and federal regulators, and I question why more is needed at the county level,” said Joel Kugler who owns a salvage business southeast of Pelican Rapids along Highway 22.
If the ordinance were enacted, Kugler and other salvage operators would need to install fencing, at a minimum of eight feet, and adhere to other regulations. Fencing height requirements might be more in certain situations.
His brother, Greg Kugler, operates Kugler Repair near Joel’s salvage business.
“We have a lot of heavy equipment on our lot, from fall to spring, while we’re making repairs,” Greg Kugler said. “I’m basically in the business for repair, but should I be considered a junk yard?”
Many issues related to the proposed ordinance will be debated by the five-person county commission after the informational and public input meetings are completed, Hanan said.
After the meeting Wednesday, Greg Kugler said he appreciates that Hanan and the county board will revisit provisions in the proposed ordinance.
“We’ll be utilizing some language as part of state statutes,” Hanan said. “I can’t comment directly about license fees, but can say they would be reasonable if the ordinance were adopted.”
Dion Schleske, who rents farmland west of Pelican Rapids, expressed concerns about idled farm equipment coming under the banner of the junk car ordinance.
Also in attendance at the gathering in Pelican Rapids Wednesday evening were all five members of the Otter tail County Board of Commissioners. They and Hanan also cite safety issues.
In many cases, abandoned cars have hazards such as battery acid and present dangers with kids getting into car trunks. Abandoned refrigerators, with open doors, is another example of a possible safety hazard.
“There’s also the aesthetics issue,” said Hanan. “We have a nice county and want it to remain so.”
Those comments were echoed by Pelican Rapids resident Kathy Arntson who, in addition to attending Wednesday’s gathering at the public library, also addressed the issue of junk cars in prior years when Pelican Rapids was revising its comprehensive, long-range plan for community betterment.
Many county residents, in previous months, have expressed concerns and want to see the establishment of a junk car-nuisance ordinance to control the spread of not only junk cars but also other debris and materials throughout the county.
If an ordinance were established, a license would be required if a party had more than five junk autos, or junk equivalent to the same space as five junk cars. Commissioners agree, however, that salvage areas — many of which include junk cars — do have their place.
Bill Stutsman, a resident of Lake Lida east of Pelican Rapids, reiterated Wednesday evening that more should be done to protect the beauty of Otter Tail County. He’s part of an organization called the Visual Chaos Committee.
A junk car is considered any motor vehicle not in operable condition or properly licensed for operation. It’s also one that is partially dismantled and used as a source of replacement parts for other vehicles — or kept for scrapping, dismantling or salvage of any kind.
The Brainerd area and other sections of the state, which Otter Tail County commissioners are studying, define nuisances as junk cars, debris and other materials.
“It’s good that we had the opportunity to be heard,” said Dion Schleske, “and that some provisions in the ordination will be revisited.”
A copy of the proposed junk yard ordinance is on the county Web site.
Comments
The Daily Journal is happy to host community conversations about news and life in Fergus Falls and the surrounding area. As hosts, we expect guests will show respect for each other. That means we don't threaten or defame each other, and we keep conversations free of personal attacks. Witty is great. Abusive is not. If you think a post violates these standards, don't escalate the situation. Instead, flag the comment to alert us. We'll take action if necessary. It's not hard. This should be a place where people want to read and contribute -- a place for spirited exchanges of opinion. So those who persist with racist, defamatory or abusive postings risk losing the privilege to post at all.Posted by goingfishing (anonymous) on June 26, 2008 at 1:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I have 7 vehicles that I am in the process of restoring as I'm able to find parts for them. They sit outside in a neat and orderly manner, but under this ordinance I'll have to get a license. That makes no sense. My alternative will be to put up another building to store them in. Then guess what ... my real estate taxes will go up because of the value of a pole building being added.
Posted by prowler (anonymous) on June 26, 2008 at 1:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Maybe you could put some at the next door neighbor's, or get rid of 2 and only have 5 restorations going at one time. If parts are that hard to find they may never get done.
Posted by Mel (anonymous) on June 26, 2008 at 2:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Chip, chip, chip away at our freedoms, there are waayyy to many people who just have a need to control something or someone. I get offended at purple or green hair, tongue studs, tatoos, and numerous other things.
When I was young, if someone done some dumb thing, we would say "well, this is America". Later people would say "there aught to be a law against it". Now there is. Lets all try to keep the freedoms that were what America is about.
Posted by goingfishing (anonymous) on June 26, 2008 at 3:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Prowler. You've evidently never restored cars from the 40's and 50's and need original parts. Parts for a Studebaker or Hudson just aren't every place you look. Yet, even while not completed, are worth serious money. Not hardly junk yard category, yet because they are not licensed or drivable I will have a problem which I don't have now.
Posted by tomanyjudge (anonymous) on June 26, 2008 at 3:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What happened to the America that is so free. We are told how many cars we can have and how may cats/dogs we can have in a house, we have to remove our garbage from your house once a week and the list goes on. What about being the free land. We are getting far from that. Is this just another way for the county to make more money and rob everyone blind when they cant even aford to live?? That what it seems like to me. If you really walked around Fergus Falls there is crap and garbage all over on the railroad tracks and roadways......WHY ISNT THAT GETTING CLEANED?? Or parks are going to waste here not getting mowed, gates blocking so you can't drive through. I don't like all that yet the city does nothing. Or all the old buildings that are run down I don't like looking at that, but I am not at any meeting to sit and complain about it. Why are all these laws going in place from homes and yards, but yet the city can leave crap how they want it, Why isn't there a law againist them, because they are the "city". All these new laws are getting out of control. We don't need a new law every year. Why don't you focus on more finer things in life. Fix up your town, get this for kids to do around here, get things to do so familys can have fun. In fergus there is no real place to even shop so you have to go to Fargo and with gas this way people can't do it anymore. So maybe the city should stop and clean up there crap before they tell the people that they need to clean up theres.
Posted by Newshound (anonymous) on June 26, 2008 at 4:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Those who rant and rave about "freedoms" have to remember those who would like to be free of the visual detritus scattered around your dens. People with self respect and respect for their friends and neighbors try to keep their property neat. If you have old cars or farm machinery all you need do is store it in an orderly manner. If you are simply King Of The Junk Pile we ask that you screen it from public view. Thats all. You are FREE to wallow in it to your hearts content as long as I don't have to watch.
Posted by Mel (anonymous) on June 26, 2008 at 5:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Most often all you need to do is ASK them to move the stuff. Why is it that so many insist on licence and gov't rules. Junk cars do not offend me, I am interested in seeing what they have. No,I don't own any junk cars.
BTW I have wondered how many thousands of dollars in parts were destroyed when they HAD to get rid of Norgrens car parts lot. Did much of it get saved?
Posted by justme (anonymous) on June 26, 2008 at 8:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This is just a matter of one group of people trying to force others to conform to their wishes and using the county for leverage. I don't own property to please anyone but myself, and what I use it for is my business. What you call an eyesore may be a treasure trove to another. You don't see ordinances on how many lawn ornaments one can have, or what color paint is acceptable, but those things can ruin the view for some just as much as a few "junk cars".
I do agree that requiring orderly storage, or even fences, is a good idea, but why such a small limit (ridiculous) and why require a permit? ($$$$)
And by the way, Newshound, you don't HAVE to watch it at all. Just stay off my road, I'm sure there are many more scenic drives where you don't have to shield your eyes from such atrocities.
Posted by jetfire63 (anonymous) on June 27, 2008 at 8:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I have just finished reading the draft of the "The Junkyard Ordinance Of Otter Tail County" This draft as written if take verbatum could affect every landowner in Otter Tail county, farmers, businesses, private citizens, even the county itself. The wording "any or all of which may be used or intended to be used for purposes other than their original intended purpose in their orginal form and condition" can cover everything from whiskey barrels used as planters to semi trailers converted to storage sheds to wood wagon wheels used as decorations. The draft as written does not exempt vehicles or anything stored inside a building or out of public view. I encourge everyone to go to the county website and read the draft of the ordinance and see hoe it could affect you personally.
Posted by werty (anonymous) on June 27, 2008 at 9:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
While this ordinace is intended to clean up obvious offenders it is not well thought out by the county. Why do they cite "Abandoned refrigerators, with open doors, is another example of a possible safety hazard" when this ordinance only addressing junk cars????
Posted by cousinguido (anonymous) on June 27, 2008 at 9:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If Bill Stutsman and his visual chaos committe are so concerned about the beauty of the land, may they should be just as concerned about the residents of Whitestonehill township in Seargent County North Dakota. You say why should we be concerned about them? I'll tell you why, that is where your garbage is sent, they didn't ask for it in fact they opposed it. Even though they don't want your garbage they have to watch the mountian of it growing in there front yards every day, at last count the moutian will be 200' high when the Gwinner landfill is considered full. I'm sure all the residents there would like to thank you personally for beautifing there township and county.
Posted by hometown (anonymous) on June 27, 2008 at 2:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I don't see this as chip, chip, chipping away at our collective freedoms, only yours and those who choose to have a junk yard in their yards. I don't want to look at it, so where's my freedom to have a nice looking community. People use "rights" and "freedom" as if they were the only one's affected. That's just selfish. If you don't want your "right's" trampled on then don't trample on mine and we will all get along just fine.
Posted by realitychk (anonymous) on June 28, 2008 at 6:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Let's let everyone continue to accumulate abandoned cars, junk, etc on their property. That way, our property won't be worth as much because no one will want to live here. Ask a realitor what a junky neighborhood does for property values.
Posted by doctipster (anonymous) on July 1, 2008 at 9:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
look, I don't mind if you have junk cars. I don't mind if you have a hundred,
I just don't want to see them if I am driving by on a county road or state highway, or on a city street. If I have to look at your junk, then IT IS A PROBLEM. Put up a fence.
I realize beauty is in the eye of the beholder. What I call junk, county state, city calls junk could be different from what you call junk. But any rust bucket car doesn't matter if its a rolls royce, Hummer, or 05 Totyota, if its rusty and sitting in peices, or peices missing, its JUNK....
Plain and simple... Clean up your mess and or put up a fence where people won't have to see it, and the community will leave you alone...
Thanks
Frank levingson
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