The Oak Park signs, why doesn’t the city go in there and take care of them? They’re in terrible-looking condition.

John Cardone, city administrator, said the entrance signs were put in by the developer and that responsibility for their upkeep rests with any homeowner’s association that exists for Oak Park.

“The city has the right to remove structures from the public right of way if they are in a condition that creates safety concerns,” Cardone wrote in an email. “These should be reported to the Public Works Department at 491-1308.”

A local activist in 2009 tried to spur the city to maintain the signs, but Lake Charles officials declined, saying the city had no hand in erecting the brick-and-iron entrance ways and so had no responsibility to maintain them.

“Back years ago, they used to have an Oak Park subdivision organization which met regularly and would take care of things,” City Councilman Rodney Geyen told the American Press in 2009. “They had the entrances installed and kept up.”

Online: www.cityoflakecharles.com.

Sulphur provisions address cans, junk

While riding around the city of Sulphur, I noticed many garbage cans being left on the side of the street from week to week with trash overflowing and also many front yards with used cars, tractors, lawn mowers and other items too numerous to mention.

Aren’t there ordinances against this?

Yes.

The relevant provisions:

Section 11-10 — Garbage and trash containers shall be placed for collection of the garbage and trash on or near the curb line in front of the residences, on the days designated by the proper authority of the city for the collection of garbage and trash, and in an appropriate place by a business establishment.

Containers shall be placed for the removal of their contents before the hour of 7:00 a.m. on the days on which regular collection will be made, and the containers may be placed out during the night preceding the day fixed for collection. Empty containers shall be removed the same day of garbage and trash pickup.

Heavy items of trash and large quantities of trash shall not be placed for collection near the street before arrangements have been made with the city or any private collector for collection thereof.”

Section 12-32 — The presence of any junked motor vehicle and/or any junked item on any private lot, tract or parcel of land, or portion thereof, occupied or unoccupied, improved or unimproved, within the city shall be deemed and is hereby declared a public nuisance.

Violations can be reported to Shelley VanderHey, the city’s ordinance enforcement officer, at 528-9534 or svanderhey@sulphur.org.

Online: www.municode.com.

The Informer answers questions from readers each Sunday, Monday and Wednesday. It is researched and written by Andrew Perzo, an American Press staff writer. To ask a question, call 494-4098, press 5 and leave voice mail, or email informer@americanpress.com

(mgnonline.com)