By Lori EhdeThe Rock County Board of Commissioners approved an ordinance Tuesday making it illegal to inhabit a building that housed a meth lab until after it’s been cleaned.The ordinance, recommended by Nobles-Rock Public Health, would also make homeowners liable for cleanup costs.When local law enforcement seize drugs and methamphetamine labs from a home, the Minnesota Drug Enforcement Agency removes drugs hazardous materials, and the state pays for that work.But before it’s safe to live there again, Public Health officials say it needs a good housecleaning.Rock County Sheriff Mike Winkels agrees with the ordinance, especially with regard to rental properties."We bust the druggies, they go to jail, and someone else rents the property," he said. "The new renters don’t even know what’s there … What hazard is still there?"Winkels said there have been four meth labs seized in Rock County homes in the past two years.The ordinance, among other things, puts the burden of cleanup — and associated costs — on property ownersIn its recommendation to the County Board, the Health Board wrote, "We are estimating that each clandestine lab incident could consume up to three days of Public Health Director and Sanitarian time with the potential cost of $840."No additional money is being allocated to Nobles-Rock Public Health Services for the enforcement of this proposed ordinance …"Commissioners adopted the ordinance, which becomes effective in January, but had questions about its fairness to property owners.Commissioner Richard Bakken said meth manufacturers are attracted to rural rental properties because of their remote locations and hands-off landlords."There are a lot of properties owned by little old ladies who don’t have much knowledge of what’s going on out there," Bakken said.Commissioner Jane Wildung also pointed out that landowners are bound to act within the law as far as reasons for evicting tenants.The board agreed to work with law enforcement townships to try to find solutions for the cost of cleanup for homeowners – particularly for properties that have no value.
