Zinn suggests remedy for litter

District 4 supervisor George Zinn recommended Marshall County look in to giving a reward to people who catch someone littering. He said the reward could come out of the fine the county would collect.

The county’s ordinance carries a fine for people who are caught littering, but no one will turn people in, he said.

District 1 supervisor Charles Terry said someone could turn in a person for littering using his or her car tag, but the person driving the vehicle may not be the owner.

Board attorney Kent Smith said due process could be a problem, just as states that film people not stopping at a red light is a problem if the driver of the car is not the one who has the vehicle registered.

Supervisors Eddie Dixon and Keith Taylor nixed the idea, saying the county could be sued.

Chancery clerk Chuck Thomas said an affidavit would stand up better in court.

“As it stands now, no one is ever being charged with littering,” Zinn said. “We had a guy throwing off of Tyro Road, but the witness would not go on the record.”

Terry said he did not see how anyone could come up with evidence of littering.

In other business, chancery clerk Chuck Thomas reported bids on the old superintendent’s office building on East College Avenue came in lower this time than the first bid, which drew a $47,000 bid on the building that was appraised for $80,000. Supervisors motioned to reject all bids on the first go-round and bidding came in at $35,000 on the second attempt to sell the building.

Supervisors said they will wait for a better day. Eddie Dixon said the county may be able to do something with it.

County administrator Larry Hall suggested finding a realtor but supervisor Keith Taylor said he is not comfortable with turning the property over to a realtor to sell it. The board moved to table the matter until the next meeting.

The board approved an order to allow the county to receive old brick from the old Compress building. Hall said the material is better than riprap in stopping erosion.