City of Buckhannon Encourages Residents to Prepare Properties for Summer Season

The City of Buckhannon would like to remind residents to be thoughtful of visitors and their
neighbors as summer approaches. A number of issues appear each year that cause complaints to be
filed with the City.

□ Be a responsible pet owner – a pet must be in the control of the owner, and it is the pet owner’s
responsibility to remove pet waste from public property, whether it is located in a Park or along
the street. If the pet owner does not own the property, then it is their responsibility to remove
the waste and dispose of it in an acceptable manner. Be kind to your pet, if it is kept tied up all
day – does it have access to shade, does it have access to food and fresh water? Ordinance #300, #397

□ Keep grass clippings out of the street – leaving grass clippings in the street contributes to
blocked storm drains and an increased threat of local flooding. When you or your yard service
finishes mowing, excess grass is to be collected and disposed of properly. The City collects yard
debris early each Friday morning – if you call and schedule a pickup before noon on Thursdays.
Note: Yard waste is collected by the Street Department and is not treated as garbage. Please do not
dispose of yard waste as part of your weekly trash pickup. Ordinance #193, Storm Sewer Construction
Standards

□ Trash cans need to be concealed – After your scheduled pickup, please retrieve your trash
containers from along the street and return them to a location more pleasing to the appearance of
your neighborhood. Having trash containers “out” more than 24 hours is a violation of the City
Ordinance #244 Section 628

□ Lawn care needs to be done weekly – The attractiveness of your neighborhood is enhanced by proper
maintenance of your yard. Failure to mow your lawn, having excess materials in your yard or on an
open porch filled with “stuff” often become eyesores for your neighbors. Please help make our City
Shine for our visitors and your neighbors. As a regular subscriber of City service for trash
collection, you may call and arrange for the pickup of bulky goods and other unwanted items by City
crews for a reasonable fee. Ordinance #244 Section 602

□ Automobiles and other items are often left to rust in back or side yards – It only takes a few
moments to arrange to have that unused item removed from your property by a towing service and
disposed of properly. If you haven’t done anything with the item in the past year, it will probably
be there next year as well. Why not have it removed today? Ordinance #357

□ Yard Sales are limited by State Law Title 110 Series 15 Section 2.39 – State Law limits the
number and length of yard sales (isolated transactions) that can be conducted without a business
license and without the collection of sales tax. “Isolated Transactions–sales of tangible personal
property or taxable services by persons who are not in the business of making such sales, such as
individuals selling their used furniture, if the person or business holding the sale holds no more
than four in one year, and each sale lasts no more than forty-eight hours, and sales of taxable
services by persons who are not routinely in the business of providing taxable services, such as
teenagers who occasionally mow lawns, babysit, or do odd jobs (persons who routinely sell odd items
at yard sales, flea markets, or along the roadside are engaged in the business of selling, and must register with the Department of Tax and Revenue as a business.

□ Obey traffic laws and speed limits – All too often in our hurry to get somewhere we fail to stop
at the corner or ignore a speed limit. Failure to obey established traffic laws can be very
expensive and extremely hazardous to a child or elderly resident. Slow down and enjoy your trip.

□ Finish that remodel project – Do you have a half-completed project around your home? Building
permits expire after 6 months, and your neighbors are getting tired of seeing the clutter. Ordinance #244 Section 617

□ Please don’t litter – Keeping Buckhannon clean is everyone’s job. Take that empty soda cup home
and dispose of it properly, or keep a small plastic bag in your car to collect the trash and dispose of it
of it properly when it is full.

□ Swimming Pools & Other Water Features – “Private swimming pools containing water more than 24
inches in depth, shall be permitted only when located in rear yards, and further when completely
enclosed by a fence or buildings or combination thereof of a height of six feet (6’) in the case of
fences, and six feet (6’) or greater in the case of buildings, and generally protected in such a
manner so as to avoid becoming an attractive nuisance especially to children.” Please take the
necessary steps to resolve this problem within 15 days from the receipt of this notice. Untreated,
stagnant pool water will need to be drained to prevent the breeding of mosquitoes. Ordinance #244 Section 606

□ Tips on Keeping Sidewalks Clean and Safe– Property owners are responsible for maintaining
sidewalks and driveway aprons next to their property. Keeping sidewalks clean and free of tripping
hazards reduces liabilities for property owners, who can be held liable if someone is injured on
the sidewalk in front of their property. Ordinance #193 Section 7
□ Address problems as soon as possible to minimize the area and amount of repair required.
□ If you observe hazardous sidewalks, report them by calling 304.472.1651
□ Watch for early signs of leaking water lines, tree roots, and other damages
□ Do not park cars or other heavy equipment on your sidewalk.
□ Remove paint, tar, or other materials if they get on the sidewalk. Do not hose paint or petroleum
products into the storm drainage system.
□ Sweep sidewalks to keep them free of leaves, snow, ice, or debris. Be sure to properly dispose of
debris. Do not sweep them into the gutter or street.
□ Trim tree branches, shrubs, and other vegetation so they do not obstruct the sidewalk.

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