Locals Question Nuisance Ordinance
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ Pinckneyville Walnut Lake Estates residents John and Sandra Roorda attended Thursday's Perry County Board of Commissioners meeting with questions about the county's nuisance ordinance in an effort to solve neighborhood problem.
The county's nuisance ordinance is one of the newer ordinances in the 2008 codification, according to County Clerk Kevin Kern. Thursday's dispute was the first concerning the ordinance.
Roorda's first question was in regard to a streetlight a neighbor of his put up directly in front of his front door and adjacent to the window of his master bedroom shining directly into his home.
Roorda had first contacted Jeff Ashauer in hopes the zoning committee could solve the problem, but it could not.
Additional complaints included trash burning and the domestication of ducks and geese, which are not directly covered by any nuisance or animal control ordinance. When Roorda approached the animal control officer about the domesticated fowl that had been eating his plants, he was told to shoot them himself. Roorda said, "It is not my responsibility nor my desire to shoot those innocent ducks."
A previous dispute in 2003 with chickens caused the county to adopt an ordinance pertaining to fowl, but is only of use when someone claims to be the owner.
Roorda's complaints are not a new occurrence. The dispute has gone on for months and this is not his first time contacting county office holders. Roorda had contacted the sheriff's department in November concerning the light post in hopes of solving it. The sheriff's department had nothing to report on the dispute since the neighbor is not in violation of any regulations.
County commissioners recommended that Roorda speak with the state's attorney to determine what his options are.
Other items covered on the agenda:
Approved a zoning map change from the agriculture zone to the R-2 zone for an area north of Sunfield along US Route 51.
Authorized approval of an intergovernmental agreement with the city of Pinckneyville for purchase of $700 worth of used office equipment from the TUMS building for the Office of Planning and Development.
Authorized Federal Aid agreement for Sawmill Road bridge project. Commissioner Sam Robb said other sections of road in the county needed more immediate attention, but approved the agreement. The project will be funded with $152,000 in federal funds, $30,900 from the state, and $7,600 from the county.
Tabled a resolution ratifying the chairman's appointments of three members to the County Board of Health due to Chairman Bobby Kelly's absence.
Approved raffle license applications for the University of Illinois Extension (4-H), Du Quoin High School Athletic Booster Club, and Du Quoin Elementary and Middle School PTO.
The board heard comments from Jeff Ashauer confirming the county's receipt of funds for the recycling center project. The center should be up and running within 4 weeks.