A resident upset about the general state of disrepair in the yards of his neighbors generated a lengthy discussion during Monday night’s regular meeting of the Niles Charter Township Board of Trustees.

Edward Hoskin, of 3039 Adams Rd., said several of his neighbors have more than one junk vehicle parked in their yards. Another neighbor, he said, hasn’t mowed for 27 years.

“I’ve lived in this township 66 out of my 68 years, and I’ve never seen such a disarray of junk cars, non upkeep of buildings and yards as I’ve seen in the last two years,” said Hoskin. “Why do we have all these rules? Why do we have code enforcement if nothing gets done?”

Trustee Chris Vella asked Hoskin if he had ever filled out a complaint form.

Hoskin said ‘no,’ but that he had spoken in the past to members of the board of trustees, including Supervisor Jim Stover, who wasn’t present at Monday’s meeting.

“I’m paying taxes and I want some answers,” Hoskin said.

Treasurer Jim Ringler said the township has one code enforcement officer (Peg Hartman) assigned to enforce things such as property maintenance and blight. At this time of the year, he said, she receives a lot of complaints and is addressing them as quickly and efficiently as possible.

“She doesn’t have time to go down every road and look,” Ringler said. “It takes everybody’s help to at least complain and say do something about the junk car in my neighbor’s yard.”

Ringler advised Hoskin to call code enforcement or file an official complaint. The phone number is (269) 684-0870 ext. 20. Complaint forms are available on the township’s website at nilestwpmi.gov or at township hall, 320 Bell Rd., Niles.

“If you call Mrs. Hartman and set up a meeting she will be happy to sit down with you and go over these things,” said Trustee

Richard Cooper.

Hoskin said he understands the township’s position and that he just wanted to express his frustration.

“It’s getting to the point where it is disrupting the whole neighborhood,” he said.

Also Monday, the board:

• Received a letter from Sen. John Proos, R-St. Joseph, in support of the township’s efforts to continue constructing a portion of the Indiana-Michigan River Valley Trail in the township.

• Heard from Trustee Richard Noble that representatives of the Betrand Bible Cemetery want a cemetery sign installed at the cemetery, located at Bertrand and 17th. Noble said the people that run the cemetery would pay for the sign.

• Heard from Vella that the Niles-Buchanan YMCA board wants to become involved with the cleanup of the township’s River Valley Trail.