State takes issue with junkyard Talmadge man’s collection encroaches into Route 1 right of way

TALMADGE – Colby Maddix lives in a junkyard.

Now the state is making plans to remove his belongings from the right of way along U.S. Route 1.

The junkyard, just north of the Waite-Talmadge line in northern Washington County, spills over into the right of way and the breakdown lane. State officials fear it could cause an accident.

Maddix lives in a broken-down bus jumbled with junk. The bus is parked on land that he does not own. The land is owned by an out-of-state concern, Typhoon LLC, and is managed by Wagner Timber Partners. The owner recently filed a lawsuit against Maddix, and in June a judge ordered the junk removed.

The land is littered with everything from old refrigerators, washers and dryers to lamps, tables and chairs. A sign says “Yard Sale.”

Just a few feet beyond the bus is a huge bicycle graveyard next to the breakdown lane.

Across the road are more buses and junked cars. Maddix owns those 6.5 acres.

Maddix, about 60, claims the Typhoon land is his. He says he is living on disability and has back problems. “The family used that piece of property. They raised potatoes over here.” He has erected a wooden cross that he said is a family memorial.

Earlier this week, Maddix met with state Rep. George Bunker, D-Kossuth, to talk about moving his junk.

Bunker also invited the state Department of Transportation, the state Department of Corrections and town officials to a meeting Tuesday night. At that meeting, it was agreed that the DOT would spearhead the cleanup in the state’s right of way.

Meanwhile, Bunker said he would work with Maddix.

And inmates from Downeast Correctional Facility in Bucks Harbor will sort through items to pull out all recyclables.

The cleanup includes moving Maddix’s house-bus across the road and constructing a parking spot for Maddix.

DOT spokesman John Burrill said DOT wants to know if Maddix will cooperate. “After we clean it up this time, is he going to lug it back again like he did the last time?” Burrill asked. A similar cleanup about three years ago resulted in Maddix putting more junk back.

Maddix said he was unhappy with the cleanup efforts. “I am going to end up losing everything. That I will not go for,” he said. “It’s very unfair.”

Talmadge Selectman Paul Beane said he was concerned about Maddix’s safety.

“I am hoping there is a different type of solution other than moving that uninhabitable bus back over to the east side of Route 1, so he can continue to subsist over there,” he said.

Bunker said he was looking into those issues. “Bottom line is: This man can live on a stump underneath a tree, out in the woods – any place he darn well pleases,” Bunker said. “It does not have to have a potable water system and does not have to have a sewer system.”

Bunker said it would be up to state and local officials to enforce any cleanup action.

He said the state Department of Environmental Protection would address the safe removal of all tires, propane, batteries, oils and hazardous liquids.

Beane said he wanted to find Maddix a permanent house “that meets all the standards, yet preserves his dignity and his health.”