County Commission | The Magazine June 2017 | Page 13

FROM THE COVER
When You Have the Right Tool for the Job
C an you guess what counties did when they got
additional authority to make local decisions at
the local level?
They cleaned up.
T
he rusted-out bread truck disappearing under a
tangle of kudzu. Stacks of old tires. Broken down
appliances. Even regular household trash spilled in
illegal dumps.
Establishing a junkyard ordinance, sometimes in
combination with a litter/rubbish ordinance, has been
the most used element of Limited Self-Governance.
“It has had a huge, positive effect on the appearance
of neighborhoods throughout the unincorporated areas
of the county,” said Jim Patrie, director of solid waste
management for Tuscaloosa County. “We have received
hundreds of signed complaints over the years and,
fortunately, brought each one into compliance.”
What Tuscaloosa County refers to as a “Junk
Law” is the county’s locally-drafted ordinance that
since 2010 has implemented regulatory authority over
Photo credit: Tuscaloosa County
junkyards, as defined in state law, in unincorporated
areas. There is an enforcement mechanism, though
it is worth noting that junkyard ordinances adopted
under Limited Self-Governance do not affect farming
operations or businesses.
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COUNTY COMMISSION | 13