A resident of Boyd Wisconsin is speaking out after receiving a citation related to Boyd junk ordinances.
David Smith, age 72 of Boyd, received a citation letter regarding an old shed his wife has been taking the barn boards off.
The letter dated Sept. 19 lays out the complaint from the village’s end.
“This letter is to inform you that your property is in violation of Title 11, Chapter 6 and/or Title 10 chapter 5 of the Village of Boyd Ordinances as it relates to public nuisances,” the letter reads.
Written in with pen is village ordinance number 11-6-5(I) for “public nuisance affecting peace and safety: dilapidated buildings.” Also written in pen on the letter are “grey metal debris in yard, needs grass mowed.”
Smith isn’t happy.
“This is harassment,” he says. “We live out in the country on a dead end road.”
The road in question, Boundary Road, forms the technical boundary between Delmar and Boyd, with Smith’s residence technically on the “Boyd” side of the municipal dividing line. Smith says the building in question is an old barn shed that his wife is tearing boards off of, while a reference to unmowed grass was actually “pasture.”
Since the initial letter, citation hearing letters were mailed in which the village ordinance cited is 11-6-6 (rather than 11-6-5(I)), with 11-6-6 related to “public nuisance regarding junk/recreational equipment.” The two citation hearing letters are numbered B380SVWD75 and B380SVWD77 respectively.
Reached for comment on ordinance enforcement, Stanley Police chief Lance Weiland shared more on what goes into things on the department’s end.
“Whether it’s something we observe ourselves or whether it’s called in we make contact with the owner or tenant in form and in writing,” he said. A form letter is sent out and time is given to correct the citation.”
If nothing is done the department then follows up within five to 10 days, and is willing to work with the owner if more time is needed. While each new day is technically a new violation, the goal is ultimately compliance. The department is more proactive if it’s a continuing issue, he said.
Regarding ordinance enforcement elsewhere in Boyd, the village board has previously used its ordinance authority to take action regarding the former Roses and Rosebuds property on East Murray Street, and is in the process of taking legal action for a property on Adams Street, after repeated attempts to reach the property owner were unfruitful.
A citation hearing was scheduled Tuesday, Dec. 2 at 9 a.m., a $200 fine attached to the ordinance violation.