subscriber servicessubscribecontact usabout ussite mapBuy a Classified
Tue, Nov 10 2009 

Published: September 05, 2008 12:52 am    print this story  

Jones Towing case continued

Until attorney can appear before Fairmont Board of Zoning Appeals

By Mallory Panuska
Times West Virginian

FAIRMONT A public hearing to address an ongoing property maintenance issue at a local towing business was continued by the Fairmont Board of Zoning Appeals Thursday night.

Danny and Donna Jones, the owners of Jones Towing located at 209 Suncrest Boulevard, were in attendance at the board’s monthly meeting to appeal a claim from the city’s building inspection office that a vehicle impound lot was being run at the property.

But, in the absence of the Jones’ attorney, David Grunau, the couple asked that the case be continued until the attorney could be in attendance to represent their case.

And with conditions that the Jones keep the property cleaned up and do not park any more than three vehicles at a time there, a motion was passed by board members to continue the case until Oct. 2.

City Attorney Kevin Sansalone said the current state of the property is a “substantial improvement” from how it looked when the Jones were cited with the initial violation on Jan. 30.

At that time, Sansalone and city building inspector and board member Scott Jolliff said nine vehicles were parked on the property, which was in violation of the area’s zoning code. Under City Code, the area is zoned neighborhood residential and an impound yard — which board member Ron Straight described as a property where multiple inoperable, wrecked vehicles are kept — is not permitted there.

Sansalone explained that the Jones have the authority to run the business office of Jones Towing from the property but had leased a separate, remote property in a different location to use as an impound lot.

However, officials said that the couple was no longer leasing that property and appeared to be using the Suncrest Boulevard location, where they also live, as the impound yard.

According to pictures taken at the property on Jan. 30 by code enforcement officer Anthony Horton, there were tires and other debris scattered across the ground and a tarp over the opening of the garage below the couple’s residence where the city had ordered a door be put up.

But in pictures taken Thursday before the board meeting, only three vehicles occupied the property, the area was much cleaner and more presentable, and a door had been erected in front of the garage.

“I do thank them and I do commend them for making a substantial effort to clean up (the property) from what it was Jan. 30, 2008,” Sansalone said.

And in the conditions in the motion made to continue the case, Sansalone said that that as long as the couple keeps up the maintenance of the property and parks no more than three operable, properly inspected vehicles there at one time, the Jones will not be cited for any more violations while the case is waiting to be heard and can continue to operate their tow business from the site.

Danny Jones also said that as long as Horton does not come to his property, he has no problem with city officials taking photographs or inspecting the property to ensure that he is abiding by these conditions.

On Jan. 30, Jones accused Horton of trespassing on his property and had him arrested. The code enforcement officer was found innocent on the misdemeanor trespassing and destruction of property charges in court in July, but Jones has made it clear that he does not want Horton to enter his property again.

E-mail Mallory Panuska at mpanuska@timeswv.com.

print this story  



autoconx
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Premium Jobs


OIC TRAINING ACADEMY is offering new program Youth Services Worker
Certification Program. This program will prepa
...>MORE

HOSPICE AIDE - FT
Tender Loving Care

Recruiting now for the
following position in our
ANMOORE hospice agency:
...>MORE

Tow Truck Driver
Tow truck dri vers needed Full Time. Apply at Marks Sunoco & Towing, 2395 WhiteHall Blvd.
WhiteHall WV 366-5765
...>MORE

Hildebrandt Learning Centers at WVU Child Lrng. Cntr,
FOOD SERVICE STAFF Hildebrandt Learning Centers at West Virginia University Child Learning Center, Morgantown, WV, has a...>MORE

Safety & helath Inspector Screening
COAL MINE
SAFETY AND HEALTH
INSPECTOR
FEDERAL EMPLOYMENT
SCREENING

7:00AM

Nov
...>MORE

West Virginia University Hospitals (
TRUCK DRIVER
West Virginia University Hospitals (WVUH) – United Linen Services has a full-time position open for a
...>MORE

Safety & Health Inspector Screening
COAL MINE SAFETY
& HEALTH
INSPECTOR
FEDERAL
EMPLOYMENT
SCREENING

7:00AM

...>MORE

adjunct positions
Fairmont State
University invites applications for adjunct positions for the January, 2010 semester.  Areas of ...>MORE

Physical Therapy Assistant
Physical Therapy Assistant - Mountain State Physical Therapy is now accepting applications for a Full Time Licensed PTA ...>MORE

Sales Professional.
Jack’s Furniture Center seeks full-time
Sales Professional for showroom sales.
Excellent commission plan plus
...>MORE

See all ads


 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2009. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index