The Sunman Town Council listened to complaints about the appearances of two homes and one trailer park July 17.

Carl Bruns, utility superintendent, brought up the unkept condition of a home at 110 Jackson St. owned by Cindy Herbert. Town attorney Amy Streator said she will call Herbert's attorney. “Our issue is that it's becoming a nuisance.”

After the meeting, Clerk-Treasurer Kris Schneider explained the STC position is the house either needs to be maintained or sold. “There are interested parties. It’s been vacant for quite awhile.”

Speaking of 115 Pearl St., neighbor Terry Knueven said, “There ain't no way I'm going to sell my house" with it next door. Renters “have got rocks stuffed in the windows to keep the dogs from getting out of the garage ... I've called the humane society about the dogs. It's really bad in there." One section of yard hasn't been mowed all year, Knueven added.

He asked the town to write a letter demanding that the property be maintained to the owner, now living in Las Vegas, according to Schneider.

Roger Lang suggested that Ripley County Area Planning Commission director Tad Brinson be called to inspect the home. Streator agreed to phone him about the problem.

President Wayne Jenner asked, “Don’t we have an ordinance where we can cut the grass?” Schneider said the town has billed a homeowner for mowing before. If a bill is not paid, "then it goes on their taxes." Streator will study the ordinance, then advise what can be done.

Ruth Riehle discussed the number of yellow and red tags on mobile homes at Westvue trailer park. Marshal Bill Dramann said out of 22 lots there, just four trailers are occupied. According to Bruns, “I drove through there this morning. That place is in the worst shambles that I've ever seen it.” He said something needs to be done.

Member John Campbell asked Riehle, “What happened to your lawsuit (against Westvue) on the common nuisance?” She answered, “It's still in the process.... what support can you give us to get it cleaned up?” Campbell said the council should talk to Brinson to learn more about the tag process and what town or country ordinances need to be enforced there.

Riehle questioned if town leaders are supporting the proposed Sunman Regional Sewer District. Jenner replied, “The only thing we did was to sponsor the application to apply."

Lang pointed out the possible Penntown development would benefit from a nearby sewer system. “I understand there are a lot of people against economic development in Ripley County.” He said if a sewer board is formed, those members could decide to stop the project.

Jenner said some people are concerned if septic systems fail on their small parcels where there is no space for second septic areas, “they would be condemned. Their houses would be of no value to them and they would probably have to move.”

Lang added that others own property that can't be built on because it’s too small for two septic sites. “We have had businesspeople begging to have something to do with this.” He allowed that with the sewer system, property values and consequently taxes may rise. “What they can't understand, it's going to create jobs and that's going to help the whole county out.”