SILVERHILL, Alabama — Signs leading into the town of Silverhill read “A Good Place To Live.” Police Chief Kim Wasdin wants to keep it that way.

“We want to attract more businesses and more residents to our area,” she said.

But lately, she said, the department has received several complaints regarding debris, junk vehicles and yards that have not been maintained that, not only cause a nuisance for other residents, but can cause serious health risks.

The Town of Silverhill has ordinances that require any debris to be placed behind fences away from public view, Wasdin said. Ordinances also require vehicles that are not in working order to be under covered areas and not up on blocks where grass and weeds can grow up under them.

 “We have had ordinances on the books for several years pertaining to property maintenance that, if not kept in check, can cause serious problems with rats, fleas and other pests,” she said. “We’ve had one instance where debris is piled up under a building and a couple of feral cats have built nests in there. The fleas are so bad that they have begun to spread into neighbors’ yards causing serious health risks.”

As a result of the complaints, Wasdin said, she, along with other town officials, have been going around town cataloging the more serious offenses.

“We’re not talking about yards where the grass has not been cut for a few days,” she said. “We are only concentrating on the most serious cases.”

While the ordinances pertain to all of the town’s police jurisdiction, Wasdin said, they have so far only concentrated on the 1-mile corporate limit, which includes approximately 670 residents and have compiled a list of 2 ½ legal-size pages filled with infractions.

Wasdin said the town is in the beginning stages of getting the infractions cleared up. The first step in the process is to issue warnings to residents.

“We tried sending certified letters,” she said, “but we found that people were simply not responding to them.”

Wasdin is now going door-to-door issuing warnings.

“You do not have to personally accept the warning,” she said. “We can simply tape it to your door.”

So far, Wasdin said, she has issued about 20 warnings and had plans to issue more warnings this week.

Offenders have 15 days to comply with the warnings, she said. If no progress is made toward cleaning up the property, a second warning is issued giving the property owner another 15 days to comply. If a third warning is issued, then fines could be levied of as low as $50, up to $500. If the town has to clean up the property, then the property owner will be assessed the cost of cleanup.

“If you see a pink piece of paper on your door, you need to know that this is simply a warning and not a citation,” Wasdin said. “We’re not trying to pick on anyone, and we’re certainly willing to work with anyone who needs help cleaning up their property, such as the elderly or physically challenged. We just want to get these messes cleaned up for the health of our citizens.”

Along with warnings issued for health concerns, Wasdin said, the department is also issuing warnings to residents who have not registered their dogs within the town limits.

The Town of Silverhill requires that all residents register and tag their dogs. The animals must be current on all vaccinations and residents are required to pay a fee of $3 per animal.

“This is not a money-making proposition for the town,” she said. “We’re simply trying to document all dogs so that if we pick up a loose animal in town, that animal can be returned to its rightful owner. Otherwise it has to be taken to the Baldwin County Animal Shelter.”

Out of the more than 100 dogs in the town of Silverhill, only about 30 have been registered, Wasdin said.

Anyone wishing more information can contact Wasdin at 251-945-5200 or Town Hall at 251-945-5198.