Quick! You see a child playing in foeces in a neighbor’s backyard. What do you do?
a) Ask the mom if you can help her clean the yard or watch the child.
b) Call DSS and let them commence an investigation.
c) Enact new legislation empowering health officials to trespass on anybody’s property at any time without a warrant.
Quick! A truck carrying depleted uranium rolls off the highway and into your neighbor’s yard. What do you do?
a) Call 911 assuming public safety personnel have the training and authority to mitigate the disaster inasmuch as is humanly possible.
b) Challenge public safety officers when they show up because they don’t have a search warrant.
c) Enact new legislation empowering health officials to trespass on anybody’s property at any time without a warrant.
The two scenarios above were presented by the Haywood County commissioners as justification for option (c). In an ongoing saga, citizens continue to fight the board for granting a public health czar the power to trespass on property without a warrant. As has been repeated elsewhere, most stormwater and steep-slope ordinances these days are granting their administrator said czar powers. My commendations to the Haywood County citizens who are giving the issue a run for its money.
