Maintenance code is common sense

A good number of Johnson County farmers are upset over county supervisors' proposal to enact a property maintenance code.

They say it's a violation of their privacy, their rights as landowners and - while I haven't heard this argument in so many words, it's a pretty pervasive theme - the county's faith in the rural virtue of plain old common sense.

These rural landowners say they'll take care of their property, all right, in their own way and on their own terms. They don't need some inspector coming and telling them what to do.

Hundreds packed a public hearing Thursday night. Dozens stood and gave their variations of the old “Don't Tread on Me” line that was so popular during the great Newport Road debate a few years ago. “Leave the farmers alone,” one woman told a TV reporter.

You can see her point, and those of her fellow opponents. It isn't fair the 99 percent of Johnson County folks who work hard and take pride in their property should be stuck with a bunch of nuisance rules just because a certain absentee owner can't be bothered to make sure tenants have clean water at his mobile home court.

But life's not fair - the folks who showed at Thursday night's meeting should know that as well as anyone. And since Johnson County Supervisors can't very well create a code that applies only to Regency Mobile Home Park, this is the way it's got to be.

That doesn't mean the county shouldn't take a harder look at the language before enacting the maintenance code, to make sure it meets their intent - to establish minimum standards to make sure dwellings are fit for human habitation.

But supervisors repeatedly have said they're not interested in beautification or any kind of condo-association control of people's property. Property owners, please listen.

Most farm buildings are meant to do work, not impress the neighbors. A barn doesn't have to be in the greatest structural shape to be good enough to store hay. Supervisors understand that.

It's the serious safety concerns they're after - like making sure electrical, plumbing and heating systems are in working order in rural homes. They want to make sure people are living under safe roofs.

The proposed property maintenance code isn't about controlling rural landowners, it's about common sense. And when a certain rural property owner doesn't have so much as a pinkie finger full of that cardinal virtue - doesn't know or care enough to provide safe, livable conditions for his tenants - common sense says it's time for the county to step in.

Comments: (319) 339-3154; jennifer.hemmingsen@sourcemedia.net