Front-yard junk worries Hainesville officials

Deborah Lee Bonds says a hot tub, snowblower and other items in front yards or driveways aren't helping home values in her Hainesville neighborhood dotted with for-sale signs.

Bonds voiced her concern about what she contends is a growing number of shoddy properties during a village board meeting Tuesday night. Bonds is a former village trustee who lost her re-election bid in April 2009.

Of particular concern to Bonds is a hot tub that remained on a front drive across from her house Wednesday. A section of the tub was broken.

"It's an eyesore," Bonds told Hainesville's elected officials. "It is a nuisance. We are trying to sell our home."

Mayor Linda Soto said she understands Bonds' worries about aesthetics and home values. Soto said the village has been attempting to get homeowners in line through ordinance enforcement by police.

For example, Soto said, about 35 warning citations have been issued in the past couple of weeks to owners with excessively tall grass or weeds on their lots.

"And we've had a couple of other warnings," she said. "We had citations about taking down holiday decorations."

Police Chief Wallace Frasier said "several" warnings were issued to homeowners with winter holiday decorations still on display in early spring.

Village officials were frustrated enough with the outdated holiday motif that a reminder to remove it was included in a March resident newsletter.

"We appreciate the joy and beauty they bring during the holiday season, but at this point and time they begin to look out of place and some are even untidy. Thank You!" the newsletter states.

Meanwhile, the snowblower Bonds mentioned at the meeting sat near a garage facing the street near her home on the village's north side, with the hot tub a short distance away. She told village officials the snowblower has been on the front drive for at least six months.

Hainesville Trustee John Derenoski said he's concerned about the tub becoming a safety hazard if it is not covered and fills with water when it rains.

"If a little child were to crawl up in there, God forbid what would happen," Bonds said after Derenoski raised the issue.