Cleaning up our corner of Wyoming

One of the benefits of going for a run is that it gives you time to think. And as I run through Cowley, I have been thinking lately about what it means to live in a town.

An important part of living in an organized, civil society is that we agree to live with a certain amount of mutual trust, respect and responsibility. We give up a little bit of our ability to do whatever we want in exchange for living in a community that is safer, cleaner and better for everyone.

If I only drove the speed limit through Cowley when I knew Danny was sitting somewhere waiting for me, I would be missing the point of the speed limit. I don’t slow down just because I might get a ticket. I slow down because there are kids riding bicycles, people crossing streets, neighbors backing out of driveways and other people who have just as much right to safely use those streets as I do.

And, of course, I don’t want to get a ticket.

I think some of that same philosophy should apply to the way we maintain our property.

There is a strong feeling in Wyoming that says, “It’s my property, and I can do whatever damn thing I want with it.” I understand where that comes from. Private property rights are important, and nobody wants the town government telling them what color to paint their house or whether their lawn is green enough.

But living inside a town is different from living alone on 160 acres.

What we do with our property affects the people around us. Accumulated junk, abandoned vehicles, tall weeds, garbage and unsafe structures don’t always stop being a problem at the property line. They can create fire hazards, attract pests, affect neighboring property values and simply make a neighborhood feel less safe and less cared for.

That is why I think our towns should explore adopting reasonable cleanup ordinances.

The key word is reasonable. This shouldn’t be about forcing everyone to have a perfectly manicured lawn. I certainly don’t want the yard police coming around to measure the height of the dandelions in my flowerbeds or reminding me that my gutters need cleaning.

There is a big difference between a yard that needs mowing and a property that has become a legitimate nuisance or safety concern. Any ordinance should recognize that difference and focus on serious problems rather than appearances.

It should also recognize that sometimes people need help. An elderly resident, someone with a disability or a family going through a difficult time may not be able to clean up a property by themselves. A good community doesn’t always begin with a citation. Sometimes it begins with neighbors showing up with gloves, trailers and a willingness to help.

Maybe that is really the larger question.

Instead of beginning with, “It’s my property, so what can anybody else tell me to do?” Perhaps we should begin with, “How can I work with my neighbors to make this a town where people feel comfortable, safe and proud to live?”

Our small towns belong to all of us. Keeping them good places to live should belong to all of us, too.