Disrepair, overgrown brush, standing water in the basement, and pests were just some of the issues Ash Street residents in Bruceton voiced about the house at 104 Ash Street during the town’s regular meeting on Tuesday, October 14.
“My 11-year-old daughter likes to play hide-and-seek with her friends,” said Chasity Lopez, who lives near the abandoned home. “She’s at that age where she’s curious and brave, and I worry every time she’s outside that she might go into that house. The doors are open, there’s water in the basement, and animals go in and out all the time. It really scares me.”
Another neighbor, Theresa Ferrar, said the property poses an immediate danger to neighborhood children. “There’s a hole big enough to drive a car into, and water standing in the basement,” she said. “It’s only a matter of time before something bad happens.”
Troy Heatley, who lives next door, said the property’s neglect has caused damage beyond its boundaries. “When my mom lived in the house I’m in now, two trees from that property fell onto ours,” he said. “It ripped the electrical system out of the house. [That house] has been like this for years.”
Residents also brought up concerns about a woman who frequently visits the abandoned home to feed stray cats and other animals.
“She carries a litter box full of food and leaves cans out,” Lopez said. “It’s not just cats, she’s feeding raccoons, skunks, and possums. They’re all over the neighborhood now.”
Another resident said the activity has only made the problem worse. “And because of that, the animals have started tearing through our yards. We’re dealing with the smell, the mess, and the danger.”
Bruceton resident John Mallory offered to secure the property himself if the town could obtain permission.
“If I could get the materials, I’d be glad to go down and close it up,” he said. “Just to keep kids out until the town can do something.”
Mayor Robert T. Keeton III thanked him for the offer but said the town can’t authorize that.
“We cannot take action on private property,” Keeton explained. “The lady feeding the animals is a trespasser herself. She has no authority there, and we’ve dealt with her in several areas of town.”
The Mayor said the town has already begun the condemnation process.
“We’ve sent a letter to the property owner giving them ten days to respond,” Keeton said. “If there’s no response, a citation follows, and then it goes before the board for formal condemnation.”
Town Recorder Annie Hand explained that if letters are returned, the next step is public notice.
“Once the notice runs for two weeks, we can hold a condemnation hearing and order the structure removed,” she said.
Alderman Renee Ward said she sympathized with the residents’ frustration and fears.
“Hopefully, we can reach the owner soon, or the town can move forward with condemnation before someone gets hurt,” she said.
For now, the town will continue efforts to contact the property owner and pursue condemnation, but residents left the meeting still worried that the abandoned home remains open and unsafe in the meantime.
Scrap Yard Ordinance Discussion
Aldermen debated at length over an ordinance to regulate scrap collection within the town limits.
The proposed ordinance sought to define what constitutes a scrap yard and to require materials to be stored behind fences and on trailers, keeping them out of public view.
Mayor Keeton said the intent was not to ban scrapping but to “give people guidance and give the town some teeth” when responding to nuisance complaints.
“We’re not trying to be an HOA,” he said. “We just want to discourage scrap metal being dealt with in a way that causes problems for neighbors.”
Alderman Ward expressed concern about the wording, questioning whether the ordinance would conflict with current rules that prohibit scrap yards entirely. “Either we allow scrap or we don’t,” she said, asking for clearer language to avoid confusion.
Alderman Jack Blocker said he didn’t want to restrict residents from making a living collecting scrap. “When prices are low, people wait to sell. That’s not a junkyard, that’s just timing,” he said.
Blocker and several other board members agreed that the rule requiring all scrap to be on trailers might be too restrictive.
After discussion, Recorder Hand proposed revising the language to remove the trailer requirement and instead mandate that all scrap “must be located behind a privacy fence that fully obstructs visibility from public streets and neighboring properties.”
The board reached agreement to rework the wording and revisit the measure at the next meeting.
New Ordinance on Unauthorized Occupancy
The board unanimously passed Ordinance 25-07, prohibiting unauthorized occupancy, camping, and squatting on public or private property.
Mayor Keeton said the measure was prompted by issues at 136 Cedar Street, where a woman had allegedly been collecting rent on property she did not own. “This gives us a way to address that kind of situation directly,” he said.
Ward asked whether the ordinance would affect residents who allow someone to live in a camper on their property.
Keeton clarified that it applied only to unoccupied or unowned property, not private arrangements with permission.
Other Business
Additionally, the board approved other measures:
- Approved a resolution to close the ARPA account at Apex Bank, transferring the remaining $1.94 balance after the federal COVID relief funds were fully used.
- Agreed to seek bids for new photocopiers for both Town Hall and the Police Department, as the current leases are expiring.
- Voted to amend the fee schedule for traffic court to reflect a state-mandated $1 increase in litigation taxes, raising the total from $14.75 to $15.75 per case.
- Authorized the disposal of an old generator at the sewer lagoon, which will be sold for scrap.
Bruceton’s next meeting will take place on November 11 at 5 p.m.
