Comment
Email
Print
The newest sergeant at the Woodbury Police Department has a special task.
Lowell Womack was recently promoted to a sergeant position by Woodbury Police Chief Tony Burnett.
Womack joins John House as a sergeant with the police department.
"I can't say enough about Sgt. Womack and the job he is doing." Chief Burnett said. "He is well-liked by both the public and his peers."
According to Chief Burnett, one of Sgt. Womack's primary duties will be to enforce city codes dealing with property maintenance.
"I'm looking forward to serving in this capacity," Sgt. Womack said. "We got a lot done last year and we will be out in force again this year enforcing the ordinances."
Womack started with the WPD as a reserve officer in 2007 and became a full-time patrolman in August 2008.
As part of enforcing Town of Woodbury ordinances, Sgt. Womack said he would be checking for situations such as unregistered, inoperative vehicles parked in yards or along streets, household goods stored in public view, uncut grass, piles of trash and heavy appliances sitting out in plain view.
"First I talk to them (violators) and give them a red tag," Sgt. Womack said. "Then if they don't take care of the problem it's a citation for each offense."
Chief Burnett said one of the recent challenges facing the department is unkept foreclosed property, the number of which have increased during difficult economic times.
"It's hard to get the banks to take care of these properties," he said.
The chief said it is important people take pride in the community in which they live, and one way of doing so is keeping it clean.
"When people care about their community there is less crime," Chief Burnett said. "When a community looks proud, the people look and act proud."
Following are some of the ordinances Sgt. Womack is enforcing:
13-301. Vehicles prohibited on property, streets or alleys. It shall be unlawful for any corporation, partnership, or individual or individuals to have upon the public street, alley, or private property in the Town of Woodbury, Tennessee any vehicle which is inoperative or unregistered for a period longer than thirty (30) days. Any violation of 13-301 subjects the violator to a fine of up to $50 for each day the violation continues.
13-104. Weeds. Every owner or tenant of property shall periodically cut the grass and other vegetation commonly recognized as weeds on his property, and it shall be unlawful for any person to fail to comply with an order by the recorder or chief of police to cut such vegetation when it has reached a height of over one (1) foot.
13-504. Storage of household goods and equipment, etc., prohibited unless enclosed. No person, whether he be owner, tenant, occupant, lessee, or otherwise of any property or premises shall place, allow, discard, maintain, park, store or permit to be placed, allowed, discarded, maintained, parked or stored upon said property or premises for a period of time exceeding 48 hours any dismantled, abandoned, nonoperating, junked, damaged or destroyed household goods and equipment, motor vehicles, machinery or miscellaneous property as herein defined; provided, however, that the provisions of this subsection shall not apply to any property or premises where said household goods and equipment, motor vehicles, machinery or miscellaneous property is housed within an enclosed building thereon or to any property or premises lawfully operated as a business where the same is a part of said business enterprise and necessary to operated said business on said property or premises if kept within an area completely enclosed by a screening fence so that the property enclosed is not visible to the public and to neighboring property owners.
