Proposed property maintenance code good for Johnson County, residents

The League of Women Voters of Johnson County has been concerned for many years with the access of all county residents to a decent home and suitable living environment.

We also believe the Board of Supervisors must adopt strategies that recognize the county's changing demographics as population growth occurs. More recently, we have begun to study the issue of regionalization of safe and sanitary water and wastewater facilities.

While residents of many cities in the county have been protected by appropriate city codes from unsafe and unsanitary living conditions, unsafe drinking water and inadequate sewage disposal, residents of unincorporated areas have not.

Every year, more people move into rural Johnson County in addition to the rural mobile home parks and farm residences already there. Lack of county regulations has led to an uneven playing field for county residents.

Several years ago, for these reasons, we supported the adoption of the county building code. We have been pleased that we have heard very few complaints since its adoption. Supervisors at that time had the courage to do what was right for the public welfare.

Now, the pending adoption of a property maintenance code can assist the county in its duty to protect the health and welfare of its residents. The code will provide the authority, on a complaint basis, to regulate unsafe or unsanitary living conditions. We urge adoption of the proposed code.

Polly Horton

President

League of Women Voters of Johnson County