VAGRANT CAMP CLEANUP IN CHARLOTTE COUNTY

CHARLOTTE COUNTY VAGRANT CAMPS LOCATED NEAR A MAJOR SHOPPING AREA WILL BE CLEANED OUT AND HOMELESS PEOPLE WILL BE MOVED.  COUNTY DETECTIVE BILLIE HATMAKER, WHO IS SHUTTING DOWN THE CAMPS SAYS, “IT’S NOT A GLAMOROUS JOB, BUT IT HAS TO BE DONE.”  THE AREA IS A MASS OF TENTS, CLOTHES AND MATTRESSES.  BECAUSE THERE WAS ALSO A FIRE PIT FILLED WITH TOXIC WASTES, THE DEPUTIES HAD TO CALL IN HELP FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.  DAVID HARRIES OF THE D E P INDICATES THERE IS GARBAGE, OPEN CANS OF FOOD AND IT’S JUST NOT  A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT.  DETECTIVE HATMAKER ALSO REPORTS THE COUNTY IS USING INMATES SO THERE WILL BE A MINIMUM COST TO TAXPAYERS.