30 Properties Fined, 60 Violations Issues Over Trash and Litter In Spring Valley

The Rockland County Office of Buildings and Codes (OBC) is investigating over 60 code violations across the Village of Spring Valley, for rubbish and garbage accumulation.

After a recent media report about accumulating trash in the village, OBC Director Ed Markunas immediately sent out inspectors to investigate further and hold property owners responsible.
OBC discovered over 30 properties with more than 60 violations of the New York State Property Maintenance Code that included the accumulation of old tires, construction debris, furniture, and propane tanks.

“My office has been tasked with protecting the health and safety of the Village of Spring Valley and we all know accumulating trash is more than an eyesore, it becomes a breeding ground for pests and rodents. We hope our swift action leads to cleaner neighborhoods throughout the village,” 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐄𝐝 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐮𝐧𝐚𝐬.

As the issue poses a health safety risk, the Rockland Codes Investigations Unit (RCI), part of the Rockland County Department of Health is also responding to the issue and has at least five active cases with trash violations in the Village of Spring Valley.

“This is not an easy job, but it is an important one,” 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐮𝐭𝐲 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐧. “We face many obstacles from uncooperative building managers and landlords but are working on behalf of the best interests of the people of Rockland.”

The Rockland County Department of Health RCI program is responsible for the enforcement of housing hygiene and occupancy regulations pursuant to the Rockland County Sanitary Code. RCI investigates all residential housing complaints, including allegations regarding single family dwellings, multiple dwellings, rental properties, and owner-occupied premises. Since its launch in 2015, RCI has assessed over $2 million in fines against property owners across Rockland and, unlike the Office of Buildings and Codes, has jurisdiction to respond and investigate complaints county-wide.

“The property owners enabling these egregious conditions should be ashamed of themselves. I’m proud to see Director Markunas and RCI taking swift action on behalf of the families in the Village of Spring Valley,” 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐲 𝐄𝐱𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐄𝐝 𝐃𝐚𝐲.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐦𝐢𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐝𝐞 𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐕𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝟖𝟒𝟓-𝟑𝟔𝟒-𝟑𝟕𝟎𝟎 𝐨𝐫 𝐛𝐲 𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐥 𝐭𝐨 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬𝐀𝐧𝐝𝐂𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐬@𝐜𝐨.𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝.𝐧𝐲.𝐮𝐬.