Ordinance route unlikely: Steptoe junk meet draws comments

An estimated 60 people gathered in the Steptoe School gym Monday night for a special meeting with Whitman County commissioners to hear input on a petition signed by 150 people, which calls for a county ordinance to curtail junk cars and debris in unincorporated areas.

Various county residents spoke against the petition, spurred by Steptoe resident Kirk Suess last fall, and then others spoke for it.

After Commissioner Art Swannack asked for a show of hands of who signed Suess' petition, about 20 hands were raised.

Suess was not in attendance. He lives in Palm Desert, Calif., during the winter.

Commissioners opened the meeting with Swannack, board president, welcoming those in attendance. He then read the petition, which seeks to limit the number of inoperative and unlicensed vehicles, amount of trash/garbage and encroachment on county roads.

Commissioners Dean Kinzer, Michael Largent and Swannack then listened.

Greg Jones, who farms east of Colfax, said he had land and is against this.

"I don't think the county ought to be telling me what to do on my property," he said.

More spoke into the microphone set up next to rows of chairs at one end of the basketball court.

"If it applies to the poor people, it ought to apply to the rich farmers," said one man.

Another spoke.

"I think one of the fundamental freedoms of this country is not being told what to do," the man said.

"I think this is an infringement of personal property rights," Greg Hall, a lifelong Steptoe resident, said.

Kris Munson said she moved from Pullman to Steptoe for the open space and did not want to be told how to use it.

"It's a bad idea, I just don't see how the county would enforce something like this," another man commented.

Swannack then asked for the show of hands for supporters of the petition, which Suess submitted to commissioners three months ago.

"If any of you want to speak, we would like to hear your input," Swannack said.

Tom Sheer stood up and walked to the microphone.

He noted he has lived in Steptoe since 1992.

"I'm also a strong advocate of property rights," he said. "But when someone else's property is decrepit, something needs to be done ... the rich people in the county, that's an unfair statement to me."

He continued.

"In the 27 years I've been here, it's gotten worse ... businesses have failed. We need family, not a bunch of stuff collecting. What we're showing is, we don't really want families to come in, businesses, in my opinion."

Greg Herron, who lives in Steptoe's corner Phillips 66 tribute gas station, asked about the clean-up that was done in October 2017.

Mark Storey, county Public Works director, then walked to the microphone, and said another cleanup could happen, again with a construction-sized dumpster brought to town for a day.

"I got a mess around my place, and I know it," said Dale Becker, noting that his grandfathers homesteaded on the Palouse. "I don't like the idea of someone coming in and telling me what to do. I'm not against hauling things off. I hauled off a 1967 Chevelle because I was told to haul off a few things."

Herron reiterated his offer to buy inoperable 1970s vehicles.

Commissioner Swannack then clarified to the crowd what this ordinance may be. It would be solely for unincorporated towns of Whitman County.

"The incorporated towns have full control whether they're beautiful or junky," said Swannack.

Whitman County Planner Alan Thomson then walked to the microphone.

"Ninety-six percent of Whitman County is agricultural district. That would not be affected," he said as part of his remarks.

Any potential ordinance could affect three county zones; rural community residential, rural community center (a mix of residential and commercial) and rural community commercial, which is more specifically commercial.

Steptoe and other unincorporated areas are made up mainly of these three zones.

"I don't think you should be able to vote on something if it doesn't affect you," another man commented.

An older guy in a knit hat talked next.

"When you're so lazy you can't even haul garbage ... there's got to be a happy medium somewhere," he said.

Then a call came from the crowd to talk about potholes.

Swannack explained that in order for this to be an official meeting of commissioners, it had to stay on the topic it was called for.

He asked for any further input on the subject of the petition, and then commissioners adjourned the meeting.

Afterword

"I thought it was a good meeting," Swannack said Tuesday morning. "What I heard is they don't want more regulations but want some assistance."

Swannack suggested those who would like to have a vehicle taken from their property should call Sheriff Brett Myers, who works with a company in Spokane to remove abandoned vehicles in road right-of-ways.

Swannack also indicated he will confer with Storey, Public Works and the county Health Department about conducting another cleanup day in Steptoe with a large dumpster.

Commissioners do have the option to call in the planning commission to study the matter and perhaps propose a change in county code.

What will happen next?

"At this point in time, I don't see us having the planning commission going down the regulation road," Swannack said.

What is the next step on this, if any?

"How do we get a dumpster out again and getting information to people on how to contact the sheriff or (other entities) to pick up junk cars," Swannack said.

Enforcement

Incorporated towns and cities handle the issue of junk vehicles, etc., by their city councils passing specific junk ordinances, along with employing a code enforcement officer who may issue fines for violations such as a vehicle propped up on bricks.

Unincorporated Whitman County towns such as Steptoe, Thornton and Winona were originally platted much the same as what became incorporated towns.

"The intention was to incorporate them," said Alan Thomson, county planner. "Sometimes they got incorporated, sometimes they didn't."