Since 1996, Lyon County has spent more than $600,000 on illegal dumping and vandalism in the county.
Lyon County Engineer Chip Woods said during Wednesday morning’s Lyon County Commission study session that the county has spent a staggering amount of money on cleaning up after people in the county who dump illegally and vandalize signs and other things in the county.
“It just boggles my mind that in the last five years we’ve been shelling out over $40,000 a year just for vandalism,” Woods said. “Dumping has gone down a little bit but not a lot.”
In 2010, between the two, the county has spent more than $60,000 — taxpayer dollars that could be utilized elsewhere while fuel prices are on a steep incline.
“It doesn’t seem to be sinking in that this is costing them money,” Woods said.
The total amount spent on sign vandalism since 1996 is $589,721.14 and the total amount spent on illegal dumping since 1996 is $225,068.58.
Watch the full Meeting Here: County Commission Study Session
For more on today's county commission meeting see Thursday's Gazette.
americus1987 (anonymous) says...
Why don't don't we sink the Rock money into this then?
March 9, 2011 at 12:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
hometownkid (anonymous) says...
Just think how much is going to be spent keeping the new rocks clean from vandalism!! Or what happens if a car crashes into one of them? What is the price for just one rock?? I mean since we got a "deal" on buying four at once.
LOL !!
March 9, 2011 at 12:48 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
solong (anonymous) says...
I hope some of the costs of this dumping include digging through the debris to get a lead as to who did it and prosecute it big time. This is nothing but stealing our tax dollars to pay for cleaning up the messes these people should have paid to dispose of their trash like the rest of us.
March 9, 2011 at 1:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
neighbor (anonymous) says...
If their job is to maintain the roads and right of ways, how is the work costing us extra? I recognize and appreciate the fact they shouldn't have to be picking up other people's trash, I just find it hard to believe it costs an extra $600k to get rid of trash when we already have the trucks and employees salaries to pay for already.
March 9, 2011 at 2:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
neighbor (anonymous) says...
I went back and re-read the break down, trash cost an extra $225k over the stated 15 year period, the $600k included sign replacement.
March 9, 2011 at 2:34 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
uranidiot (anonymous) says...
I think the vandalism would stop after you chop off the second or third violators hands. As far as illegal dumping, if someone is caught, start a chain gang and have all of them clean a hundred miles of road in July.
March 9, 2011 at 3:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
thiefs_necktie (anonymous) says...
Picking up trash would be a great way for the unemployment and welfare check'ers to help out those that are helping them.
March 9, 2011 at 3:39 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
goodoleboy (anonymous) says...
As a county resident I that has reported dumpers in the past all I can say is this, when someone calls in a plate # and reports them for dumping DON'T BLOW IT OFF.
March 9, 2011 at 5:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )