Tommie and Kathy Norris Phillips had 60 days to clean up their yard at 8085 Warren Sharon Road in Masury of junk vehicles, trash and debris.
“He called me on the 60th day (April 11) and said, ‘I’m trying,’” said Brookfield Code Enforcement Officer Pete Ross. “I got a Dumpster out here.”’
Officials said April 27 that they have seen the Dumpster and things moved around on the property, but would not deem it to be cleaned up. That’s why they are making preparations to do the job themselves.
“We have a plan,” Trustee Dan Suttles said.
Officials obtained a court order allowing them to enter the property and remove “all junk, garbage and debris.” The court order followed a years-long effort to get the Phillipses to clean up the property.
Township Road Supt. Jaime Fredenburg said he is not in a rush to enter the property because of ground conditions.
“The drier we get, the easier it’s gonna be on everybody,” he said. “It won’t tear up the lawn and get stuck.”
Trustee Mark Ferrara encouraged employees to act with all prudent haste.
“I don’t want you working in the mud, either, but we’ve been patient to a fault,” he said.
If the township cleans up the property, it is allowed to assess the costs to the Phillipses.
Township road crew workers removed 145 tires from the property on May 3, Ferrara said.