Junkyard fence issue taken before county council

A group of junkyard operators urged county officials on Thursday to scrap its controversial ordinance that requires them to erect an 8- foot fence around their property.

The operators cited a lack of knowledge of the ordinance on the part of Cherokee County Council members and the unfairness of singling out junkyard opeartors to regulate.

Billy Tessner of Al's Auto Service in Blacksburg said the ordinance was passed to benefit Cherokee County Councilman Charles Mathis. He also threatened to sue council, which, he claims, failed to act in the best interest of the community.

"None of the councilmen knew what was in the ordinance," he said. "The councilmen did shoddy work. They are trying to drive everybody out of a job."

The Cherokee County Planning Commission and Cherokee County Building Official Chuck Bobo heard the gripes Thursday. Bobo told the junkyard operators the purpose of the meeting was to hammer out a compromise on the issue.

Bobo said council members were willing to drop the fencing requirement if the junkyard operators agreed to use fast-growing trees, where appropriate, as a buffer. But the junkyard operators argued their businesses serve a useful purpose to the community and they shouldn't be targeted for unfair regulation.

The junkyard operators also expressed concern about a provision in the ordinance that requires them to obtain an annual license to operate. Although council had agreed to waive a license fee, junkyard operators feared council would charge them a licensing fee in the future.

In July, council approved a moratorium on new junkyards and first reading of a proposed ordinance that was drafted by county attorney Joe Mathis.

In November, council unanimously passed final reading of an ordinance that requires junkyard owners within two years to erect an 8-foot fence on the portion of their property that fronts public rights-ofway. The ordinance also stipulates that junkyard owners have five years to extend the fence around the entire perimeter of their property.