A proposed ordinance addressing abandoned vessels and dilapidated waterfront structures such as docks sparked objections from supervisors after a public hearing held during the July 18 Mathews County Board of Supervisors’ meeting, leading the board to table a decision on the matter for 60 days.
As proposed by Mathews County Attorney Andrea Erard, the ordinance would require that owners remove, repair, or secure any vessels, wharves, piers, pilings, bulkheads, or property that has been abandoned, is hazardous, or is creating an obstruction that “might endanger the public health or safety of other persons” or that might obstruct the lawful use of waters or create a hazard in the water.
The ordinance, if approved, would have given the county the authority to remove or secure the property or make repairs if the owner doesn’t do so after having been given a reasonable amount of time, and it would enable the county to charge the owners with the cost and to collect the money like a tax. If th...