City takes action against blight

JOHNSONVILLE - With rundown, unkempt and abandoned houses and other buildings beginning to be a blight on Florence County and the Pee Dee, Johnsonville City Council members gave City Administrator Scott Tanner the authority at their last meeting, to take whatever measures he deemed necessary to begin ridding the city of such eyesores, which are nuisances and dangers as well.

These structures within the city are prime targets for fires and to house vagrants such as homeless people.

An example is the mobile home shown above, located on Pine Street. Tanner told council he had sent the owners of this home two certified letters asking them to move the home or bring it up to standard requirements, if that is possible in its present condition. He received confirmation on the first letter but has had not heard from the second one. He said the house was to have been moved by April 19, but was still in place last week. It appears the metal has been stripped from the outside of the home, possibly to sell, and the remains are worthless.

Council gave Tanner the authority to proceed with plans for the city to have this home removed. On Tuesday of last week Tanner said he plans to take action with the removal right away.

That is not the only blight within the corporate limits, but the process to remove them or have the owners take action to upgrade them has to begin somewhere.