Cleanup campaign sparked in Coulee Dam

A comment from a resident of Coulee Dam who asked why something isn’t being done to get people to clean up their properties, got a quick response from the police department.

This past week police went on a real campaign to notify property owners whose places are in violation of the town’s nuisance ordinance that they better clean them up.

Some 24 notices went out to property owners that their places were in violation.

Property owners who fail to respond to cleanup notices could be subject to fines of $500 for each day of violation.

The police department has been writing violation notices for the past couple of weeks.

Police officers, when driving around in residential areas, routinely send notices of violations. However, just recently the practice has been accelerated.

Police Chief Pat Collins said that most residents who receive notices finally respond by doing work on their properties. He said Monday that Colville Tribal authorities have been helpful with properties where the tribes have an interest.

Collins said that his department follows up notices with a second notice. He stated that to date there haven’t been any citations issued.

Notices this week went out to residents on Pine (2); Holly (4); Okanogan Avenue (1); Central Drive (4); Civic Way (2); Walnut (2); Yucca (2); Tulip (3); River Drive (1); Camas (2) and Fir (1).

Notices might address debris piled around, unmowed yards, vehicles parked improperly and various other violations.

The notice gives residents five days to respond.