Next month the Westlake City Council will vote on an ordinance to reduce “junk” on residential properties in the city.

An approval would amend an existing ordinance to include the definition of “junk items,” which would allow the City to clean up debris from properties. “Junk items” include old tires and barbeque pits, scrap metal, automobile parts, and broken-down motorcycles and boats.

The original ordinances include items such as old vehicles, furniture and appliances, Code Enforcement Officer Curtis Lyons told the American Press.

“If you can look at something and say, “Man, that’s an eyesore, that’s what we’re talking about.”

Mayor Hal McMillin said the ordinance change is a “complaint-driven” endeavor, citing requests from citizens who want to see debris removed to maintain clean neighborhoods and good property values. The addition of the definition to the ordinance will give Westlake code enforcement officers leverage to address these complaints.

“They’re old boats … Just various different things,” he explained. “Grass is growing up around them, they haven’t been used in years. They’re junk and they need to be disposed of.

This is part of a larger city mission to keep Westlake clean and aesthetically pleasing.

One of McMillin’s first acts of mayor was to hire a compliance officer, he told the American Press.

“We were trying to get the city cleaned up and take our pride back – bring our property values up by not having old junk laying around houses that are devaluing other people’s property. We’re trying to work in a very positive way to get things cleaned up and improve the quality of life in Westlake.”

The city’s third annual Trash Bash will continue this effort. On the morning of April 5, volunteers will gather and clean up trash along some of Westlake’s main streets. Additionally, there will be opportunities for citizens to dispose of extra trash in trash trucks, and recycle electronics in partnership with Citgo.