March 28, 2024
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Town cracks down on code violations

PALMYRA – Town officials unanimously voted Wednesday night to send letters to those in town who are in violation of town codes, giving them until Nov. 15 to clear up the problems.

Although one resident failed to obtain a permit before moving a barn onto her property and another resident was reportedly allowing raw sewage to run on his land, most of the violations – and complaints from town residents – centered on junkyards, including an illegal operation directly across from the town hall.

Ronald Rowe, who operates the vehicle sales and repair facility, was at the selectmen’s meeting and was warned by Selectman Michael Cray that a cleanup was necessary.

“I understand that you are trying to make a living there,” Cray said. “I certainly can appreciate that. But the bottom line is that you are in violation and you need to get it taken care of.”

Rowe promised to have his property cleaned up before the deadline, but also promised to begin a campaign to make sure other violators were held to the same standard.

“There are a lot of places with stuff in their yards around town,” Rowe said. “There are a lot of places way worse than mine.”

Rowe said that he was being targeted because his property is across from the town hall. He promised to “ride around town” and bring back a list of violators to the selectmen. “Then we’ll see what happens,” he said.

Rowe told the board that he was allowed to have three junked vehicles and that he was going to put those three cars right in the front of his yard and fill them with junk.

“That would be a salvage yard and that is not permitted,” Cray warned him.

In other business, the tax rate was calculated at 13.3 mills, or $13.30 per $1,000 of valuation. The figures are based on a town valuation of $77 million, and estimated appropriations, including school payments and the county tax, of $1.4 million.


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