New county ordinances 
CARLA GWALTNEY OWENS Sentinel Writer

Clay County Board of Commissioners passed two ordinances Thursday, both with unanimous votes. A new solid waster ordinance will go into effect Jan. 1, while an ordinance prohibiting sex offenders from entering county parks and recreation facilities, including the county's campgrounds, that goes into effect immediately.

Commission Chairman Hub Cheeks said after a unanimous vote to pass the sex offender ordinance, that the county's children are of utmost importance and that signs will be posted at the entrances to all county parks and campgrounds.

The ordinance states that any person who is a registered sex offender and appears on the federal or state sex offender roles may not enter parks or recreation facilities. County Manager Paul Leek stated that there are currently nine registered sex offenders living in Clay County.

Although no opposition was heard to the passage of the sex offender ordinance, several members of the audience did share their unhappiness with the solid waste ordinance. "just want to know if we can plan on more of these ordinances," one man questioned commissioners. He and several others shared their concerns about too much government interfering with the lives of the citizens of the county. The gentlemen also questioned whether or not the ordinance governing litter and trash which collects on private property would be used too extremely.

Commissioners reassured those with concerns that the ordinance which they passed is for the purpose of regulating illegal dumping and collection of trash that could pose a health risk. Commissioners, with the county attorney on hand, went over the details of the ordinance and said it gives the county legal authority to intervene in situations that pose a public health risk or a nuisance. In addition, commissioners said that although the local health department has some legal recourse by authority of the state, that their powers are limited. Therefore, commissioners said the county needed an ordinance to govern situations where litter and trash gather and rats and other varmints run rampant.

Commissioners also pointed out that there is an appeals process for citizens included in the ordinance. Commissioners said it is not their intent that this become an abusive ordinance, but that they felt the citizens of Clay County needed a legal recourse for serious litter and trash problems in their neighborhoods. In a nut shell, Commissioners said that Clay County needs to be diligent about litter and that they need to make sure citizens aren't throwing trash on their neighbors' property.

The ordinance, according to the county attorney, only applies to those areas outside the jurisdiction of the municipality of the Town of Hayesville. He added that the town would have to enact their own solid waste ordinance to apply to those within the town's limits.

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