Commission gives property owner 90 days to finish nuisance cleanup after contested hearing

The Harrison County Commission voted to give a property owner 90 days to finish cleanup at a four-acre site after a contested nuisance hearing on May 20.

At the hearing the commission said staff first contacted owner Judith Russell in October after neighbors reported debris, rundown buildings and a truck on the property. Code-enforcement staff told the panel that cleanup momentum had "dropped off" in recent months and that multiple buildings and scrap piles remained.

Delisa Pearson, who identified herself as Russell’s daughter and spoke on her behalf, said neighbors and volunteers had helped remove metal and other debris and that she had photographs documenting staged progress. "All the metal is gone," Pearson said, and she described arranging a scrapper and volunteers to remove remaining items. She asked the commission for clear direction on what was required to close the case.

A staff member summarized the commission’s expectations: remove the dilapidated trailer and truck, clear garbage and dismantle unsafe structures or provide a rehabilitation plan. After discussion the chair asked for a motion; the commission approved giving the owner 90 days to complete the remaining cleanup work. The motion passed by voice vote.

The hearing record includes ongoing communication between staff and the owner: Pearson said she had spoken to staff in late October and again on Nov. 25 and acknowledged that she misunderstood a staff comment about waiting until spring. Staff asked the owner to keep the county updated on progress and to coordinate inspections with county staff.

The commission did not record a roll-call tally in the minutes; the outcome was announced by voice. The county will review the property after the 90-day period to determine whether additional enforcement is needed.