CLAYPOOL – Town council on Monday replaced Claypool’s law on abandoned and junked vehicles with one that sets concrete definitions and fine amounts. Police Chief Lou Mediano presented the new law, which he drafted after discussing similar laws with other towns. It includes a definition of “vehicle” that describes cars, motorcycles, trailers and other means of transportation, and defines “junked” as having no license plate and not being kept in a garage. The law also specifies fine amounts ranging from $75 to $200. Mediano explained that police will first tag an abandoned vehicle and give notice to the owner of the vehicle and/or of the property it’s sitting on. If it isn’t removed within 20 days, fines begin accumulating with each day considered a subsequent offense, he said. Also Monday, council voted to have roads in the cemetery and housing addition cleaned and sealed for about $6,600. The council will vote on an additional $12,000 of work to Main and Section streets next month after getting more details on the cost and improvements to be done. Tax Increment Finance District funds will be used toward part of the work, with the rest coming from the Local Roads and Streets fund. And they approved about $1,700 in repairs to the town dump truck, noting that actually replacing the vehicle wasn’t figured into the current budget. Claypool’s spring clean-up day is May 13, council heard. The town asks that items to be removed are in a box or bag, and several types of items will not be accepted, including tires, computers, televisions, car batteries and hazardous and household chemicals. Council President Niki Miller later appealed to residents not to let their garbage cans sit on the curb when they’re not expecting pick-up, noting the cans are liable to be struck by snowplows, get blown into the road or rummaged through by animals.
