MANSFIELD — The city will place cameras in various locations where people have been known to dump trash illegally.
According to Mansfield administrators, the city has been plagued with individuals using secluded areas as their own personal dump site for many years.
“This is not only illegal but causes health issues, costs taxpayers a lot of money in cleanup, contributes to blight, reduces property values in those areas and can be a deterrent for businesses moving to the city,” a city press release states. “To combat illegal dumping, the city has purchased several cameras that will be strategically placed in anticipation of recording offenders.”
Mansfield mayor Tim Theaker described the measure as one of last resort to curtail illegal dumping.
“We’ve been working for a long time to try to circumvent individuals from doing it,” Theaker said.
J.R. Rice said people have been discarding furniture, tires, and other materials throughout the city in isolated locations.
“We’ve been addressing it the best we can,” he said.
One way has been sifting through the trash, searching for any materials that could help identify the culprits. Rice said they were successful on some occasions but that the practice hasn’t been very helpful.
Cleanups take a toll on taxpayers’ money — some have cost several thousands of dollars, Rice said. A recent cleanup cost over $550, he said.
Signs will be posted at the camera locations, alerting the public that the cameras are rolling and any unlawful activity will result in repercussions. Rice said this measure is being implemented because the city would rather prevent illegal trash dumping than have to pay prosecuting and cleanup costs.
He noted that the city ordinance requires property owners/tenants to have trash service pick-up.
Below are codes in the city ordinance pertaining to littering or illegal dumping.
1363.01 DUMPING PROHIBITED.
No person shall dump, cause to be dumped or permit to be dumped on any property within the City any earth, stone, bricks, broken concrete, broken asphalt or any similar nonorganic materials unless there has been a permit issued to the owner of the property where the dumping is to occur. Such permit shall remain in full force and effect as provided by this chapter. (Ord. 87-095. Passed 4-21-87.)
1363.99 PENALTY.
Whoever violates any provision of this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree for the first offense and a misdemeanor of the third degree for each subsequent offense. Each day of violation shall constitute a separate offense.
917.01 NUISANCE DECLARED; REMOVAL REQUIRED.
(a) It is hereby determined that all litter, junk or trash that has been placed, thrown, discarded or deposited, or caused to be placed, thrown, discarded or deposited, regardless of intent, upon any lot, lands or premises within the City constitutes a detriment to the public health, safety or welfare, and is a public nuisance.
(b) No owner, lessee, agent, tenant or person having charge of or responsibility for any lot, lands or premises within the City shall cause or allow litter, junk or trash to collect, accumulate or remain upon any such lot, lands or premises.
(c) As used in this chapter, “litter, junk or trash” includes any garbage, waste, peelings of vegetables or fruits, rubbish, ashes, cans, bottles, wire, oil, paper, cartons, boxes, junked, dismantled, wrecked or abandoned automobiles or parts thereof, wagons, furniture, glass, old or scrap copper, brass, rope, rags, batteries, rubber, iron, steel or anything else of an unsightly, unsafe or unsanitary nature, whether or not being for sale, salvage, refuse or recycling (Ord. 94-150. Passed 6-21-94.)
917.03 FAILURE TO COMPLY.
(a) If the owner, lessee, agent, tenant or person having charge of, or responsibility for, the maintenance of any lot, land or premises fails to comply with the written notice, the Director of Public Service or his designee shall thereupon cause the litter, junk or trash to be collected, removed and lawfully disposed of and for such purpose he may employ the necessary labor to carry out the provisions of this section. All expenses of labor and costs incurred shall, when approved by the Director or his designee, be paid out of municipal funds not otherwise appropriated.
(b) When the Director or his designee causes litter, junk or trash to be removed, as provided in subsection (a) hereof, a statement of the costs shall be mailed to the owner of such lot, land or premises by certified mail, return receipt requested. Such statement of cost shall include the following costs to the City:
- (1) Administration and supervision.
- (2) Transportation of equipment.
- (3) Equipment rental.
- (4) Equipment operator.
- (5) Incidental labor.
- (6) Dumping, disposal fees.
The fee to be charged shall be the minimum hourly charges of seventy-five dollars ($75) for the first hour or portion thereof and sixty dollars ($60) for each additional hour or portion thereof, or the actual costs incurred by the City, whichever is greater.
(c) If the owner of such lot, land or premises fails to pay the fee charged by subsection (b) within thirty days from receipt of the statement of costs, the Director or his designee may commence and pursue the appropriate actions against such owner to collect the amount due to the City.
(d) The Director or his designee is authorized to make a written account to the County Auditor of his/her actions under Section 917.01 to 917.03, and a proper description of the lot, land or premises involved. Such amounts, when allowed, shall be entered upon the tax duplicate and shall be a lien upon the lots, lands or premises from and after the date of the entry and be collected as other taxes and returned to the City’s General Fund. (Ord. 94-150. Passed 6-21-94.)
331.42 LITTERING FROM MOTOR VEHICLE.
(a) No operator or occupant of a motor vehicle shall, regardless of intent, throw, drop, discard or deposit litter from any motor vehicle in operation upon any street, road or highway, except into a litter receptacle in a manner that prevents its being carried away or deposited by the elements.
(b) No operator of a motor vehicle in operation upon any street, road or highway shall allow litter to be thrown, dropped, discarded or deposited from the motor vehicle, except into a litter receptacle in a manner that prevents its being carried away or deposited by the elements.
(c) As used in this section, “litter” means garbage, trash, waste, rubbish, ashes, cans, bottles, wire, paper, cartons, boxes, automobile parts, furniture, glass or anything else of an unsightly or unsanitary nature.
(d) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor. (ORC 4511.82)
