Jan 17, 2008 2 min read

Although Uniontown’s new property maintenance ordinance is controversial in some quarters, you can’t argue with enforcement officer Myron Nypaver’s 10 citations against property owners for alleged violations like the following: – A debris-filled garage that’s collapsing, with significantly rotting exterior walls and vertical supports.

– A large accumulation of garbage and old building materials spread out over a property.

– A decayed and dilapidated house that’s unsafe for occupants, with a large accumulation of garbage and auto parts outside and on the porch.

– A house in dire need of repair that’s unsanitary, also with a large amount of garbage strewn about outside.

No one wants – or should be forced to – live near such unkempt properties. Their presence affects property values on the street and in the neighborhood. In addition to being unsightly, violations like these pose safety and health risks.

While one might argue that some people don’t have the money to fix up their homes, what is the excuse for yards that end up looking like a garbage dump? And who would want to live next door to one?

Too often in Fayette County, municipal officials have ignored the inexorable link between the physical appearance of properties and the downward spiral that results. Decaying structures lead to decaying neighborhoods, which lead to decaying quality of life for everyone.

Home ownership carries with it a certain amount of responsibility to keep those properties up. At minimum, unsafe and unsanitary conditions should be addressed. If they’re not, a ghetto inevitably will result.

Take a look around Fayette County and you’ll see plenty of properties worthy of being cited for conditions like those listed above, or even worse. More municipalities should adopt Uniontown’s stance and take a get-tough approach to code enforcement. No one wants to live next to a rat-trap, and elected officials – including township supervisors and magisterial district judges – should cease being timid in their approach.