(PASS CHRISTIAN, Miss.) - Gulf Coast cities have worked diligently the past few years to clean up overgrown lots, blighted properties and eyesores.
Most officials feel they are making progress on a job that seemed daunting after Hurricane Katrina.
Pass Christian Mayor Chipper McDermott tells The Sun Herald his city has about five properties, residential and commercial, that have buildings on them that need
to be renovated or removed. So far, they haven't been able to find the owners.
Cities can take people to court when there are code violations on the land or buildings. Gulfport, D'Iberville and Biloxi all have what they call environmental or community court.
Hank Rogers, director of community development for D'Iberville, said in about 70 percent of cases the owners respond and take care of the problem.
Information from: The Sun Herald, http://www.sunherald.com
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
