Orange commissioners ready to penalize Vidor sites using salvage yard regs

By MARGARET TOAL

Old cars stick out on the street right-of-way and a metal fence has fallen down in spots.

Three sites outside Vidor don't look the way Orange County Commissioners wanted junkyards and salvage yards to look when they created new regulations earlier this year.

So Monday, Commissioners Court voted unanimously to file misdemeanor charges and to consider civil litigation against two brothers who own the sites. The Class C misdemeanor offense can carry a maximum fine of $500 per day of violation of the county regulations.

"I don't think he's going to make any move at all unless we put his feet to the fire," said Precinct 4 Commissioner Beamon Minton, who represents Vidor.

He made the comment about the site known as Bobby's Garage, 2505 N. Main at the corner of Simmons Street in Vidor. County Engineer Les Anderson said the site is owned by Bobby Vincent.

Anderson said he sent certified letters Aug. 15 regarding all three sites and another one in November asking that Bobby's Garage comply with the junkyard regulations passed on May 5. As an option, Bobby Vincent was allowed to give proof on why he should be exempt from the regulations. Anderson said Vincent never applied.

Another site commissioners will take action against is at 2695 Main St. in Vidor. Anderson said that site is owned by James Vincent, who originally obtained a county license and paid the $300 fee associated with it.

But the gate to the business was torn off and hasn't been fixed, even though the owner has been sent letters, Anderson said.

Commissioners voted to suspend the county license and make James Vincent apply for another one, paying the full fee, when the business reaches compliance.

The third site is at 320 Greathouse Road in Vidor. Anderson said the address is listed as the home and mailing address of Bobby and James Vincent.

Precinct 3 Commissioner John Dubose said old cars on the property are on road right-of-way and school bus drivers have called the county to get the old cars moved so buses can travel on the road.

The county regulations apply to junkyards and salvage yards outside of city limits. The regulations were created after people living nearby complained.

Woody Duhon of Vidor, who had pushed for the regulations, thanked commissioners for enforcing the rules.

In other business, Commissioners Court agreed to keep the Dec. 31 deadline to get all residential debris from Hurricane Ike to the curb. County Judge Carl Thibodeaux said a deadline must be set sometime.

The county's debris contractor, Ash-Britt, will finish picking up the residential debris by Jan. 31.

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