BY ALLEN HOWARD
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The City of Cincinnati is working on "get tough" policies against junk car dealers whose lots become nuisances.
Mayor Roxanne Qualls introduced a motion Wednesday that will allow the city to remove junk cars and auto salvage parts from properties if the owner has refused to heed city ordinances.
"The ordinance should permit the use of private companies that are willing to remove the cars and car parts at no cost in exchange for the material," Mayor Qualls said.
She said she wanted the Law Department to assign all junk car and auto salvage cases to one prosecutor who has developed an expertise in such cases.
Mayor Qualls said she drafted the motion after news articles about a Riverside junk dealer who had evaded the law at his junk yard at 3891 Hillside Avenue.
The dealer, Edward Pruitt, is in jail after evading city regulations for almost two years.
Hamilton County Municipal Court Judge Patrick Kenney on Thursday ordered Mr. Pruitt to remain in jail until May 7 when he will be let out to finish cleaning up his place.
A warrant had been issued for Mr. Pruitt after he violated probation when he failed to appear in court in February to explain why the junkyard had not been cleaned up as ordered by the court.
But police could not serve the warrant because Mr. Pruitt would not answer his door or his telephone. Police
nabbed him over the weekend for driving without a license.
"I had received numerous calls and visits from residents who live near that illegal auto salvage yard," Mayor Qualls said. She said Mr. Pruitt had not been deterred by fines, jail time or any other action taken by the Health Department, the Buildings and Inspections Department, the Police Division and Hamilton County courts.
"Governor Voinovich and the OEPA (Ohio Environmental Protection Agency) also became involved with this situation to no avail. The illegal auto salvage yard continues to grow in size," she said. Mayor Qualls said a law was needed that was similar to the law on nuisance buildings on private property.
"The city can demolish nuisance buildings on private property without the owner's approval. It can clean up private vacant lots without the owner's approval. The Law Department needs a similar law," she said.
City Councilman Todd Portune said he will also suggest to the prosecutor's office that they take such cases through civil proceedings, which he said could allow the city to seize property if the owners do not comply.
"If a civil lawsuit is filed against the owner and publicized three times in a general publication, the law allows the city to seize the property if the owner doesn't comply," Mr. Portune said. The Health Department, which first cited Mr. Pruitt two years ago, asked Judge Kenney Thursday to sentence Mr. Pruitt to 60 days in jail if he doesn't comply when he is let out May 7.
"I visited the junk yard yesterday (Wednesday) and noticed the grass had been cut and some cars had been removed," said Brad Chaney, health inspector. "I understand friends and family members did the cleanup."
The mayor's motion was referred to council's public works committee for study.
