By Jeff West

SDN Staff Writer

Clean-up in Snyder continue with efforts from volunteers and city officials alike, but work in the county could be more complicated.

“Counties don’t have powers to pass statutes like cities can,” said Scurry County Judge Rod Waller. “We can only do what the state tells us we can do, and we can’t go on private property.”

The statement came at the Snyder Chamber of Commerce’s town-hall meeting to discuss clean up efforts and crime prevention.

Judge Waller did say that the county is working to clean up the Boys Club and coliseum. County Commissioner Howard Limmer said he and his crew had recently removed a number of items from county right-of-ways <\!m> including chairs, appliances, mattresses and more.

“We have a pile of trash about six feet high,” he said.

Chamber executive director Vicki Shroyer handed audience members a schedule from the city of which area dump trucks will be available during the city-wide clean up campaign scheduled for April19-22. She also praised city officials for their participation.

City Manager John Gayle was asked about dilapidated houses that the audience member believed should be torn down.

He said that in order to demolish a house down the city must determine who owns the property, which is often someone out of town. After the owner is found, certified letters must be sent, time allowed for response, then legal proceedings are begun and finally city crews have to be scheduled for demolition.

“There are 25 cases in some part of the process,” he said.

Gayle said the city did not like to do demolition and clean-up if it is possible to get it done some other way.

“When we cleaned up the Colortyme (in June 2003 after a fire) and property next door (the Boy’s Club) we had to do an (asbestos) abatement first and then the clean up and the final cost was about $48,000,” he said.

Asked if the city couldn’t seize the property, Gayle said the property could be seized and it would belong to all four taxing entities unless the city paid then other entities their share.

“But the city really doesn’t want to be in the property ownership business,” he said.

Gayle also told the audience that the Snyder city council will consider the idea of allowing city residents to call in and request a dump truck or trailer to be parked in front of their house one night so they can fill it with trash, abandoned appliances and other debris from their own clean-up. The truck or trailer would then be picked up the next morning.

“I can’t speak for the council, but I haven’t heard any negative comments about the idea,” he said.

Sheriff Darren Jackson also attended to address questions about neighborhood watches. He said that both the sheriff’s department and police department would help establish a watch for any group interested, but said that past efforts had not worked.

“You have an informational meeting and the turnout is huge. Then there are organizational meetings and the turnout drops off. When it comes time to organize volunteers and set schedules the turnout really drops. Usually all the work falls to a few volunteers,” he said.

Jackson also warned anyone interested to be careful in selecting people who will do the patrolling.

“For one thing there is a thin line between being vigilant and being a vigilante. You also have to be careful of people who want to patrol the streets just to see who has what and when they are there.”

John Rogotzke spoke about the clean-up efforts at the airport <\!m> including one hanger that is having major renovation done, mostly with volunteer labor.

Shroyer urged citizens to get the word out about the clean-up and the city’s offer to let city residents schedule a dump truck during those times. The truck will be west of College Ave. and south of 30th on April 19, east of College and south of 30th on April 20, west of College and north of 30th on April 21 and east of College and north of 30th on April 22.