Progress mixed in Carmel junkyard cleanup

CARMEL – Town officials expect to take four property owners to court after they failed to clean up illegal junkyards on their property.

Earlier this fall, the town sent out letters to a dozen property owners who were in violation of the law that prohibits excessive debris or more than three uninspected or unregistered motor vehicles on a property without a junkyard permit.

At the time, the violators were given 30 days to come into compliance, a deadline that has passed.

Stewart Brooks, Carmel’s code enforcement officer, said Tuesday that the town had hoped for voluntary compliance and in most cases it got it. Eight of those receiving letters have or are complying, Brooks said.

“I’m really pleased with the progress that’s being made,” he said.

One of the residents, who had been in compliance had 20 cars and an estimated 1,000 tires on a property, cleaned up the property, removing the tires that Brooks said had been the major issue on the property that previously had been permitted as a junkyard.

The owner lost her junkyard permit because of the tires, which Brooks and other town officials have said pose health and environmental hazards.

The tires have been removed, and Brooks said the owner will go before the Carmel selectmen on Nov. 28 and reapply for a junkyard permit.

While that property may be a success story for the town, Brooks said, he is still concerned that four continue to violate the law even as they face fines ranging from $100 to $2,500 per day.

“I don’t understand why anyone doesn’t clean up when they are facing that,” Brooks said.