Bridgewater Endorses Petition Against ‘Nuisance’ Property | Rockingham County

BRIDGEWATER —Town Council has endorsed a petition versus a residence people say is a general public nuisance.

Addressing City Council on Tuesday, resident Bob Tennyson stated drafting the petition was the last hope for neighbors of the assets, located in Bridgewater’s Sanston Web-sites community.

According to the draft complaint, the home poses health and fitness and safety pitfalls, and has accrued “unwholesome, unsanitary and harmful substances,” like trash, waste supplies, components of motor vehicles, lead acid batteries, wheels, tires, rusty metal, plumbing fixtures and other particles.

“Grass, weeds, wild trees, and other international growth on the Home serve as a haven for snakes, skunks, floor hogs and other vermin,” the draft petition states. “Animals from the assets destruction vegetable gardens, flower beds, and other plantings on the neighboring attributes and pose a wellbeing hazard and security chance to pets and small children.”

Tennyson said he would file the petition in Rockingham County Circuit Court for a special grand jury to investigate the grievance.

“This is our previous and greatest hope to guard our wellbeing, our assets and just our pleasure of daily life in the city of Bridgewater and in the Sanston subdivision,” Tennyson mentioned.

City Council’s endorsement of the petition has no legal outcome, but does show a assertion of support, stated Town Manager Jay Litten. Mayor Ted Flory and council users Fontaine Canada, Travis Bowman, Monthly bill Wonder, Steven Schofield and Jim Tongue voted to endorse the petition, with Dillina Stickley dissenting.

“I do not know that that’s notably in our bailiwick, and I really don’t imagine it serves any unique type of reason to do so,” Stickley explained.

According to town paperwork, the property, located in the 100 block of South Sandstone Lane, is in violation of town code thanks to the accumulation of “odious products,” this sort of as junk and other components that “individually or collectively, may well endanger the wellness or basic safety of citizens of the Town.”

Officials have despatched correspondence to the home proprietor 5 times about his assets not becoming compliant with city code, the earliest of which dates again to 2020.

Achieved Wednesday, the residence operator stated he was unaware of the petition. He claimed he not long ago experienced a stroke, and expressed displeasure with how Bridgewater officers and his neighbors did not aid him.

“Nobody has even provided to support me,” Thomas Harrison Tyler said.

When 5 or extra citizens file a criticism with the circuit court about a community or frequent nuisance, Virginia legislation mandates a particular grand jury to look into the issue. If the grand jury policies the house a community nuisance, a demo will be scheduled.

Bridgewater City Legal professional Jason Botkins explained there would be no legal repercussions if council endorsed the petition.

Officers recalled that, in 2011, Town Council also endorsed a petition from Holly Hill people, who filed a complaint in circuit court about the previous Miller dwelling. There, neighbors stated the West Lender Street parcel was a bastion for all way of wildlife, like skunks, deer and rats. The home was vacant for decades.

Afterwards, the Rockingham County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Place of work came to an arrangement to take care of the matter with the residence proprietor ahead of the situation went to trial.