JASPER, Tenn. - Six years ago, Jasper resident Marty White began complaining to city leaders about a property next to her sister's house that she said has rats, a bad smell, garbage and multiple vehicles in the backyard.
At the September meeting of the Jasper Board of Mayor and Aldermen, White said she has continued reiterated those complaints over the years, but nothing has been done because Mayor Paul Evans won't enforce an ordinance that allows the city to cite landowners to court for properties like the one she described.
"It's gone on with the properties," she told Evans. "And you know which ones they are, and I just want to know why you won't enforce it."
"We're enforcing it, but not the way you want it enforced," Evans replied.
Jasper, Tenn., Mayor Paul Evans displays a folder full of certified letters that he says he's sent out to landowners trying to get them to clean up their properties.
Jasper, Tenn., Mayor Paul Evans displays a folder full of certified letters that he says he's sent out to landowners trying to get them to clean up their properties.He said he would not cite property owners to court.
"Have you been over there to talk to him about the cars?" Evans asked White.
"It's not my place to talk to him," White replied. "It's the city's place to take care of the situation."
Evans said the city is trying.
"No, I don't think you're trying because I wouldn't keep calling you," White said.
Evans said he grew up in a house that would be considered "unacceptable and an eyesore," and he wanted to be "diplomatic" and "give the people an opportunity."
"I don't want to drag them into court and make them pay several hundred dollars and make the town pay legal fees and all that if we can get it done [another way]," he said.
"But we can't get it done," White told Evans. "We've been trying for six years. I don't think you're doing what the process says you should do. I understand about people. I'm willing to help somebody clean up, but you're going to have to do your part on what the ordinance says. I don't think anybody on this board would live next to this house. I really don't."
She said she was tired of Evans "blowing her off" about the issue.
"I just want you to get something done about it and quit telling me you're going to do something," White said. "That's all I want. Do what the ordinance says."
City Attorney Mark Raines said the ordinance doesn't specify a timeframe for the city to act, and once a landowner has been cited to court, it could be months before anything gets cleaned up.
"This is not an overnight process," he said. "The town doesn't have a right to go in and strictly enforce on appearance. If you don't have a health-safety issue, then we can't go in."
Raines acknowledged the property White described likely would constitute a health and safety violation.
"The process is in motion," he said.
Evans denied he was ignoring White's complaints and showed her a folder full of certified letters he'd sent out trying to get various properties in Jasper cleaned up.
"This is what I've been working on since I've been in office," he said about the letters. "You show me another mayor that's taken this much time to reach out to these people. I've even gone and mowed one yard myself. I'm telling you, I'm trying my best."
If property owners ask for help and are willing to reimburse the town, Evans said, city workers would assist in cleaning up.
"We're offering to help," he said. "We have the equipment to do it. We have the manpower to do it, so we're offering to help."
Ryan Lewis is based in Marion County. Contact him at ryanlewis34@gmail.com.