Bill > H3729

This bill authorizes the city of Lawrence to establish a program to combat illegal dumping, making it unlawful for anyone to deposit various types of waste, including refuse, rubbish, garbage, household goods, appliances, furniture, construction debris, landscaping debris, scrap, or trash, on public or private ways within the city or on city-owned land. Property owners are also required to remove such dumped materials from their land within seven days of receiving written notice from an authorized city official, or face penalties. The city can pursue criminal or civil actions in housing court, superior court, or the central district court of Lawrence county to enforce these provisions. Violators of the dumping prohibition could face fines of $5,000 to $10,000, or imprisonment for up to seven days, or both. Those found responsible in civil actions for violations of either the dumping prohibition or the removal requirement will be liable for a civil penalty of three times the cost of removal, up to a maximum of $5,000, and may also face court orders to remedy the situation. All collected fines and penalties will be deposited into a dedicated "Disposal Enforcement Fund" managed by the city treasurer, which will be used to finance enforcement efforts, removal of dumped materials, and programs for the collection and lawful disposal of unwanted household goods generated by residents.