County Looks to Crack Down on Abandoned and Messy Properties

Winnebago County, IL - Some Winnebago County residents are upset that their neighborhoods are being overlooked. They say many businesses and homes in the area are becoming rundown and its being ignored. "It`s not just the health department," says Patricia Eddy, a resident of Winnebago County whos leading the charge to get attention to spoiled properties in her neighborhood. "It`s administration and zoning that have allowed this to happen to us for many years. And now it`s got to stop." County officials say thats not the case. Leaders of the Winnebago County Health and Zoning Departments say it`s a lack of funding and outdated laws that are slowing the cleaning process down. Five health inspectors oversee the approximately 280,000 residents in Winnebago County. They say 75% of their time is spent in the city of Rockford taking time and energy away from West State St. to Cunningham Rd. The owner of Neblock Scrap, Iron, and Metal doesnt know hes being investigated by the Winnebago County Zoning Department into possible violations of his special use permit. "I know nothing about the complaints," says George Neblock. "I work hard to keep outside the parameter clean." Nearby residents have filed complaints against him because they say the mess is unbearable. Neblock says its a necessary evil, like a landfill. "Well, its a scrap yard," says Neblock. "We buy what nobody else wants." "The junk goes beyond the fence, so I think there are violations," says Dorothy Redd, Winnebago County Board member (Dist. 6). "We`ll just have to see." Dorothy Redd says there are about 40 properties in her district that are in bad condition. "We have burned down buildings and garbage all over the place," says Redd. "It just needs to be cleaned up. It`s mostly on the west side of the city. Some of these violations have been there for 20 years and we can`t let this continue." The Winnebago County Health and Human Services Committee responded to the complaints Wednesday evening. After hearing leaders from the Health and Zoning Departments explain their issues with the clean-up projects, the committee voted to discuss making changes to update the health and zoning codes. They say its an effort to speed up the process of cleaning messy properties and demolishing dilapidated houses. "As we become more and more urbanized maybe we need to look at our laws and update them," says Phil Johnson, Chairman of the Winnebago County Health and Human Services Committee. "What might`ve been acceptable 5,10 years ago isn`t anymore because someone`s building a subdivision next to you." Leaders from the Health and Zoning Departments will report back to the committee on October 2nd to give their recommendations for changes in the law. The Winnebago County Board voted last week to allocate another $100,000 to the Health Department in next years budget to help the clean-up projects.