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.
