VALLEY GRANDE — The Valley Grande city council is looking to crack down yards covered in high grass and parked cars.

During council’s meeting Monday, members approved a motion to begin researching similar ordinances already in place in communities around the state before drafting their own.

“I’m sure we could get samples of ordinances from the Alabama League of Municipalities or from other cities,” said Mayor Wayne Labbe. “We’ll do some research, bring in some samples and then put one together.”

Monday’s motion was made by council member Jane Craig, who said recent complaints about dozens of cars and burning trash on a County Road 37 property made her realize an ordinance was in need.

“It has gotten ridiculous, and if we don’t do something to get this on the books we are going to be in trouble,” Craig said. “I don’t think we need to be a stickler on somebody working on their car in the front yard, that’s not what I’m talking about. But when you have excess cars there, that’s when it’s going to have to do something.”

The owners of the property Craig mentioned, Nita and William Odom, said the cars had been temporarily stored on their property, which they use as an overflow lot for the towing company William’s father owns. The company performs repossession services, and he said the recent uproar about the cars has forced him to move them.

“Right now we are relocating them to a temporary holding yard, but I am putting up a privacy fence and a chain link fence here and bring them back,” William said. “I’ve struggled all my life and here I am trying to take care of my family the best way I know how and it’s just like nobody wants us to get anywhere in life.”

Labbe said he and council are only interested in protecting the city’s appearance instead of attacking anyone’s way of life.

“We aren’t looking into this ordinance to attack one person, but you don’t want your yard to look like a junkyard,” Labbe said. “You have neighbors and you have to respect their property and property values.”