Beech Grove’s compliance division is trying to make Beech Grove a much cleaner, more attractive place to live or visit.

“It’s all part of building a better, brighter Beech Grove,” first-term mayor Joe Wright said recently. “I want people in the community to say, ‘I’m proud to be from Beech Grove and when I’m in Beech Grove, I’m glad I’m there and if I own a house in Beech Grove, I’m glad I’m there.”

Beech Grove building commissioner Tom Hannan, Department of Public Works director Sam Merl and longtime fire chief Dennis Buckley are making most of the rounds. And they’re looking for violators.

“There is nothing wrong with living in a cleaner neighborhood,” Buckley said. “We desire to live in a nice neighborhood and neighbors are helping neighbors to accomplish that.”

Clean-up activities will be emphasized citywide on Saturday, April 23 with Clean Up Beech Grove Day with neighbors, civic groups and volunteers coming together to pick up trash and clean up yards and homes.

Compliance division

The city’s compliance division has been busy since the first of the year and their canvassing activities and clean-up efforts are beginning to been seen all around the city. They have been active in seeking the cooperation of the Marion County Health and Hospital (MCHH). Alleys, parking lots, yards and areas around large trash bins and containers are a lot cleaner and far less likely to attract rodents or stray animals.

This year, according to Hannan, 85 problem areas have been identified with subsequent work (clean-up or eradication) orders issued, 20 building projects have been red-tagged (stop orders), 40 building code violations have been issued and the existing infrastructure of 75 streets has been assessed. Many of the problems with buildings are related to fire code violations, too.

“I believe residents can appreciate what we are doing because it’s an improvement over the way the city has looked,” Hannan emphasized.

Street department employees have been utilized to assist in the clean-up.

“We use the eyes and ears of all city employees to let us know of locations that are in violation or that are unkept,” Buckley said.

The compliance division has emphasized the city’s enforcement of building permits with inspections for building code or fire code violations and interaction with MCHH authorities in ordering rehabilitation of property or even tearing down buildings.

‘Junk’ vehicles next

Most of the activity has cleaned up alleys and areas around large trash containers, according to Hannan and Buckley, particularly in Park Grove and areas between Churchman and Bethel avenues and between 1st and 13th streets.

Abandoned, non-licensed and inoperable vehicles in Beech Grove are next, warned Hannan and Buckley. The drive is expected to begin in less than two weeks with the cooperation of the Beech Grove Police Department.

If an abandoned vehicle is tagged with a warning, the owner or operator will have 21 days to make the car operational or else the vehicle will be towed.

“Cars on blocks can become a safety issue very quickly if there are children in the neighborhood crawling under it,” Buckley emphasized.

Illegal signage in rights-of-way is an issue also being addressed by the compliance division. Hannan emphasized there should be no signs posted on traffic sign posts or utility poles in the city. Yard sale signs are limited to residential yards only, he said.

Hannan and Buckley emphasized the all steps taken so far this year are leading to a more attractive city and hopefully are encouraging neighbors to help neighbors in cleaning up neighborhoods.

City officials also pointed out that beautification efforts also extend to greenways and trails planning plus commercial sites such as Wal-Mart, Rally’s and the proposed Lowe’s Home Improvement Center, all to be located on Emerson Avenue south of I-465.