Board plans to get tough with dumpers

Talk about it

The Grey Cloud Island town board is angry with people who are dumping items in township ditches. So angry, that they will consider, at the July 14 meeting, offering rewards for arrests and convictions of the dumpers.

The dumping is not ordinary household trash, said Dick Adams at the June 9 town board meeting.

Over a two-week period, computers, televisions, a lawn mower and lawn fertilizer spreader were found.

“They did it in broad daylight, too. I think we can expect to see a lot more,” Adams said, adding that the township has to pay for the items to be hauled away. “This is starting to cost us money,” he said.

Adams proposed a $1,000 reward but said he might be willing to go higher. When there is a conviction, the township gets $700 back from Washington County District Court, he said.

The board also discusses putting up signs at township borders warning people they will be fined for dumping.

Rich Mullen, township clerk, said the township put up signs some time ago but they were stolen.

“You don’t need signs,” said resident Tom Bell. “Everybody knows it’s not right. Maybe we can get grant money for being a landfill.”

Signs posting the hours the township cemetery is open were also stolen, Mullen said.

Vandalism was reported in the cemetery after a dedication plaque from the Washington County Historical Society was taken down and stakes marking a gravesite were pulled up.

Mullen said the plaque was recovered, re-installed, and anchored by six bags of cement.

Spooner can be reached at editor@swcbulletin.com.

Tags: grey_cloud_island, crime, dumpers, dumping