The Nocona News (Nocona, Tex.), Vol. 105, No. 7, Ed. 1 Thursday, July 16, 2009 Page: 3 of 8
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Litter letter draws responses
What is the city but the people?
Thursday, July 16, 2009, The Nocona News, Page 3
-William Shakespeare
Continued from Page 1
was what happened last
week with the dumpster
notices.
By the end of the meet-
ing, Councilman Tom Horn
had agreed to get with David
Fenoglio and get "a letter,
notice" published explaining
what the city was doing and
why. That letter appears in
this week's edition.
Last week's "Litter
Abatement Notice" was the
first such letter. And most
recipients did not take kindly
to the tone and the capital-
ized warning:
"Failure to comply with
this notice may render you
liable to an on-the-spot fine
of up to $200.00 or, upon
conviction by a court, to a
fine not exceeding $200.00."
Henley said Wednesday
afternoon the phones were
ringing off the walls as
recipients checked to see if
they were in violation, or if
the letter was simply a notifi-
cation. It was the latter.
"The worst is yet to
come," said Mayor Fenoglio
on Thursday after the
brouhaha generated by the
dumpster letter. "We were
out yesterday afternoon driv-
ing the south half of town
checking for weed and other
violations, and we'll do the
north half today
(Thursday)."
Henley explained that the
"Litter Abatement Notice"
was designed to advise the
dumpster customer of what
his or her responsibilities
were and the potential cost
of any failure to meet those
responsibilities.
One point in particular
drew some raised eyebrows
and scores of "How are we
supposed to do that?"
inquiries:
"(b) all trash, garbage,
rubbish and refuse offered
for collection shall be placed
in plastic bags which are
suitable weight to contain
the load. Each plastic bag
shall be adequately secured
by a tie or knot."
That wording was taken
directly from the city's con-
tract with IESI, which in turn
was taken from various state
and federal laws.
The intent, though, is
quite simple - prevent small,
light, loose trash from blow-
ing away while dumping the
container's contents into the
trash truck.
As one business owner
observed, "Ever seen a trash
truck try to dump a load of
packing peanuts? They wind
up everywhere except in the
trash truck."
Certainly, Henley con-
ceded, there are heavy, bulky
items people place in a
dumpster which would never
blow away and which could
not be placed in a plastic
bag. But everything else,
everything small and light,
needs to be bagged, he said.
The "Litter Abatement
Notice" also pointed out that
the customer can place locks
on their dumpsters - to
ensure no one else dumps
trash there - especially trash
that might be in violation of
and placed by the city notes
that recipients of the letters
will be given some time to
get into compliance before
code enforcement proce-
dures would begin.
Tthe council agreed last
month that through a series
of actions Nocona "has got-
ten junky" and it will take
timeto resolve those prob-
lems. Meanwhile, Mrs.
McCracken is preparing the
225+ letters to notify others
of things they need to do.
Smudge removal . . .
hi *
✓
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— Photo by Tracy Mesler
Janice King removes a fingerprint from a custom made
mirror sold at the Tales 'N Trails Museum Auction
Saturday night.
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That's What I Like
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mi
the code and make the cus-
tomer "liable to an on-the-
spot fine of up to $200.00".
Mrs. McCracken said
Monday she was working on
a notification letter to be sent
to property owners in
regards to the high weeds,
trash, brush, etc.
The letter written by Horn
uC&tiiWL
(SaaaaI
Brett Hewitt and Kelly Stout are pleased
to announce the birth of their daughter,
Journey Brelynn Hewitt. Journey was
born at The Doctor's Hospital in Bridge-
port, Texas July 7, 2009 at 5:50 P.M.. She
weighed 7 lbs. 2 oz. and was 20 inches
long.
Happy, and excited, to meet their little
sister were brother's Blaise and Kade
Hilton and sister Karsen Finley.
Grandparents are Jim and Kathy Stout of
Nocona, Shelly Slaybaugh of Bowie, and
Michael Lynn and Laquita Hewitt of
Nocona.
Great Grandparents are David and
Louise Stout of Nocona, J.J. and Priscilla
Wilson and Edna Sadler ,all of Bowie,
and Lois Yarbrough of Shamrock, Texas.
Also proud to meet the new little bundle
of joy was her aunt Shasta Hewitt, uncle
Alo Contreras, and cousin Kycelynn
Journey Contreras of Wichita Falls, along
with her special great aunt Keila Stout of
Nocona.
0 the itizens o Nocona
Last month, a group of concerned citizens known collectively as Keep Nocona Beautiful
(KNB), met with the Nocona City Council during their regularly-scheduled meeting. The
group voiced their concerns regarding what they believe to be inaction on the part of the city
council to enforce clean city related ordinances - ordinances that have been in effect for many
years. The ordinances were initially put in place, not only to beautify the city, but to protect
the investments made by the many property owners in the community. While making Nocona
a better place to live is the primary focus of KNB, it is also a goal that should also be
embraced by all caring citizens of our fine city.
The Mayor and Council acknowledged the fine work done by Keep Nocona Beautiful over the
past several years, and praised their efforts toward trying to make Nocona a better place to
live. The council also recognized the fact that a more aggressive position should be taken with
regard to enforcement of the many ordinances that most directly address the concerns and
goals of Keep Nocona Beautiful.
The purpose of this letter is to advise you, the citizens and property owners of Nocona, of a
renewed effort by the City of Nocona to enforce all ordinances. More specifically, the ordi-
nances initially being addressed are:
Article 6.100-Tall Weeds, Brush, Unsightly Vegetation and Stagnant Water
Article 3.800- Substandard Buildings and Structures
Article 4.700- Manufactured Homes & Parks, Recreational Vehicles
Article 7.600- Junk Vehicles
Article 2.100- Animal
Article 11.500- Connection to Water System Requirements
City crews and council committee members will be conducting visual inspections of all
Nocona properties over the next couple of weeks. Soon, city administrators will be sending
out letters to all property owners who are currently in violation of these existing city ordi-
nances.
The first letter coming from the City of Nocona will simply be a request asking for compliance
of the stated ordinance(s). Follow-up inspections will be conducted, and any future letter will
again detail any infraction along with the fine applicable for non-compliance. A reasonable
amount of time will be given to allow for compliance. If an individual property owner cannot
correct the infraction because of health or other issues, it will be necessary for that property
owner to contact the city offices to fully explain their individual situation. Keep Nocona
Beautiful has indicated they will assist in any way possible.
Folks, please understand, this is your current city government doing everything it can to follow
the mandates (city ordinances) established by many former mayors and city council members
- mandates that have made Nocona a wonderful small community in which to live. Your
cooperation as a citizen and property owner will be appreciated.
The City of Nocona
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Mesler, Tracy R. & Mesler, Linda L. The Nocona News (Nocona, Tex.), Vol. 105, No. 7, Ed. 1 Thursday, July 16, 2009, newspaper, July 16, 2009; Nocona, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth439305/m1/3/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Friends of the Nocona Public Library.