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Source: The Oregonian, Portland, Ore.儲存Sept. 03--A teetering stack of tires, a rusted car half-covered with a blue tarp, piles of lumber stacked near the sidewalk, and a pickup truck loaded down with rank raw garbage.The common theme is code violations, something Forest Grove plans to crack down on this fall.The plans include an update of city codes to address new issues or clarify current regulations, along with hiring a police officer who will specialize in code enforcement.This year's budget, approved by City Council on June 24, includes funds to turn a currently vacant part-time position into a full-time code enforcement officer and community service coordinator. The police department's labor costs are going up 5 percent, about $196,000, including the new position, along with increases in benefits and other expenses for existing staff.The hiring process is underway, and Capt. Mike Herb, a police spokesman, said someone will likely start in October.The new officer will perform code sweeps to address problem properties throughout the city. After officer visits and formal notices from the city, penalties for code violations can include fines, or having garbage and junk removed at the property owner's expense.It's not the norm in Forest Grove, but chronic code violators can create a headache for neighbors, city staff, police and themselves, authorities say.Teresa Kohl, a part-time employee who currently handles code enforcement and public outreach for Forest Grove police, has seen mountains of garbage taller than herself and pools of stagnant water swarming with bugs.But not all violations are obvious.Tension on D StreetFor example, there's the 43-foot boat propped up alongside a D Street home that has caused tension between the city and the owner during the last year or so.Arnold Gehrke, 52, said he won't give Forest Grove a penny for any fines related to code enforcement. He's moved a bus, a trailer, two boats and a motor home, storing them elsewhere when the city insisted they couldn't be on his mother's property. He lends a couple of his trucks to friends and family members so the vehicles don't stay parked on the street in front of the house for more than 48 hours.Now he's been told to move the three-bedroom, two-bathroom boat he's restoring in the driveway, but Gehrke refuses. He said the 1963 Tollycraft Adventurer is a historic treasure and anticipates it will be worth $250,000 when he finishes.The case has made its way to the Forest Grove and Cornelius Municipal Court, ending with a fine of $500.Not that Gehrke plans on paying it."They label that as junk and want my money," he said. "I'll never give them a dime."He is living in Forest Grove to help care for his 90-year-old mother, but plans to move to Idaho in the future. Gehrke said he feels harassed by police and confused by the codes they keep citing. He admits he's lost his temper a few times, and police say he's threatened officers, though he's not been charged for the alleged threats."I don't know what gives people the right," Gehrke said. "The way I see it, people with too much time on their hands cause aggravation."There is a line, he said. People shouldn't be allowed to leave garbage out, stinking up the neighborhood and attracting pests, or to block public streets or another person's property with th新蒲崗迷你倉ir junk.Defining "junk"But there's the rub. How does one define "junk?"It's not easy, Kohl said."One man's trash is another man's treasure," she said. "But the man whose trash is his treasure, that's the problem."For example, a car that doesn't run with expired tabs is considered junk. If someone is fixing or restoring the vehicle, it should be contained in a garage or shop, Kohl said, not worked on in the driveway or yard. Vehicles tend to be the item that people get most defensive about, she said.The reactions she gets vary. Some people are belligerent, insisting that they can do what they want on their property. Others are more understanding and didn't realize they had violated city code.Code enforcement is a complaint-driven system in Forest Grove. People call in about the junk cars in their neighbor's front yard or the stench of garbage from behind a backyard fence. Kohl visits the property after a complaint is submitted -- a job that will soon be handled by the department's new employee. She speaks with property owners or tenants to let them know what needs to be done, whether it's cleaning up a pile of old lumber, hauling away the shell of a rusted truck or taking down improvised tarp shanties.She is out talking with property owners about half-a-dozen times a week, she said, along with fielding dozens of calls and emails. Complaints tend to flood in when someone is trying to sell their house. Trash, tall weeds and furniture left on sidewalks or porches can hinder a neighbor's ability to sell their property, Kohl said.Broken windows theoryHerb, the police spokesman, noted that properties smothered in garbage, weeds or graffiti can also have a lasting impact on the neighborhood by leading to more severe problems.He cited the broken windows theory as a motivating factor behind citywide code cleanups. The theory boils down to this: allowing a minor problem, such as a broken window or a pile of trash, to continue indefinitely sends the message that people can get away with more of the same, or worse.There are also public health hazards associated with accumulations of junk, Kohl said, whether it's raw garbage or items such as furniture and vehicles. Pests are attracted to the area, children on the property can be injured while playing and vehicles -- including garbage trucks, street sweepers and firetrucks -- may have a hard time navigating an alley or cul-de-sac crammed with items."But when it's someone's private property, it's very hard to approach and enforce," Kohl said.And some would say when it's private property, neighbors and police should mind their own business, Gehrke said. His family has been in the same house for about 76 years.Gehrke remembers when the neighborhood didn't have curbs or sidewalks and a barn stood at the end of the street. He's seen neighbors come and go, and the new arrivals seem to expect something different than the old guard. None have approached him directly about his boat, he said, but police have stopped by again and again. He's at the end of his rope."I'm not going to give into them," he said. "I've been through this stuff before. You can't win in a small town."--Kari BrayCopyright: ___ (c)2013 The Oregonian (Portland, Ore.) Visit The Oregonian (Portland, Ore.) at .oregonian.com Distributed by MCT Information Servicesmini storage