TOWN OF ALDERSON POST OFFICE BOX 179 CITY BUILDING—311 MONROE STREET SOUTH ALDERSON, WEST VIRGINIA 24910 TELEPHONE (304) 445-2916

Contact:  Mayor Travis Copenhaver 304-445-2916 / Margaret Hambrick 304-646-2439

Alderson Abatement Process

The   Alderson   Police   Department   recently   began   issuing   abatement   and   ordinance   violation   notices   to town   residents,   homeowners,   property   owners,   and   business   owners. These   notices   were   issued   for   many different   violations,   and,   therefore,   have   many   different   remedies. The   individual   notice   stated   the   nature   of the   problem   and   gave   the   recipient   a   date   by   which   the   problem   needed   to   be   corrected.   The   notices   also informed   the   recipient   to   contact   the   issuing   officer   for   more   information   or   if   they   had   any   questions.   If recipients   choose   to   ignore   these   initial   notices,   the   complaint   may   proceed   to   the   next   step,   which   can   be criminal sanctions which may require an appearance before a judge. Mayor   Travis   Copenhaver   said,   “Before   any   notices   were   issued,   the   Town   authorized   members   of   both the   maintenance   staff   and   the   police   department   to   participate   in   a   town   wide   clean-up   day   on   May   26.   In connection   with   the   clean-up   day   the Town   arranged   for   two   dumpsters   to   be   placed   at   the   water   plant   and any   town   resident,   with   proper   proof   of   residency,   could   bring   items   to   the   dumpster   at   no   charge.   The services   of   the Town’s   employees   were   offered   to   residents   that   were   not   able   to   get   items   to   the   dumpster themselves.   This   was   a   Town   wide   effort   to   assist   residents   in   cleaning   their   property   before   any   notices were   issued.   Keeping   property   clean   helps   everyone   with   many   issues   including   reduced   insects,   reduced vermin, and increased property values.” The   recent   abatement   and   ordinance   violation   notices   were   issued   because   of   direct   complaints,   or   visible violations   noted   by   the   code   enforcement   officer,   town   staff,   or   police   patrol.   Once   a   complaint   is   received either   the   Town   Code   Enforcement   Officer   or   a   Town   Police   Officer   checks   the   complaint   to   verify   there   is an   actual   violation   of   a   Town   ordinance.   After   a   complaint   is   verified,   the   Officer   can   either   speak   directly with   the   responsible   party   or   may   choose   to   issue   an   abatement   or   ordinance   violation   notice   giving   the Town Ordinance number and a time to remedy the violation. Chief   Rusty   Beyer   said,   “In   the   month   of   June,   there   were   approximately   50   notices   sent   to   responsible parties    throughout    the    Town.    Please    note    the    Officers    are    equal    enforcement    officers    and    do    not discriminate    for    race,    color,    religion,    national    origin,    sex,    physical    or    mental    disability,    age,    sexual orientations, or gender identities.” PHOTO   CAPTION:   Members   of   the   Alderson   Police   Department   load   debris   for   a   family   who   was   unable to get it to the dumpster.

(Click photo for larger view)