Junkyard sale: $76,000

First they had to overcome what their eyes were seeing.

After more than 100 potential buyers re-oriented themselves from a couple of hours trying not to get lost in what has legally been declared a junkyard in the 1300 block of East Cameron Avenue (US 79) last Wednesday, they settled down to the serious business of buying.

And buy they did, purchasing items that totaled more than $76,000 in the 30-degree temperature, ending the first phase of what is envisioned as a massive cleanup of the Richie Thrasher property.

BEGINNING—“The process has begun,” Milam County Judge Steve Young declared, noting that the years long struggle to clean up the property at 1300 and 1328 East Cameron has come to a turning point.

Thrasher was arrested, for the third time, two weeks ago for bail jumping/failure to appear and illegal dumping after several convictions, numerous fines and years of orders from both Rockdale city government and Milam County to clean up the property or face more and more serious legal actions.

“Nothing was done to remediate the situation,” Young said.

He noted the county also deemed the property in violation of numerous provisions of the Texas Health & Safety Code.

The property was seized by the county on Nov. 8.

INSPECTION—The pre-auction two-hour inspection period was notable for the amount of head-shaking among prospective buyers as they navigated pathways through the assorted clutter, some of which towered well above their heads.

More than one told The Reporter: “I’ve never seen anything like this.”

Piles of tires dotted a landscape of iron, hulks of automobiles, a huge tank, wheels, clothes and assorted bric-a-brac.

One pile consisted solely of hangers, there were old business signs nestled among clothes, televisions and scores of household items popped up, by themselves and in piles.

Browsers would wander down what they thought were trails only to retrace their steps when the pathway narrowed and closed.

“It actually was worse than this at one time,” Sheriff Chris White said. “There have been some things moved over several months and that opened up some pathways.”

TAPE—It wasn’t your typical auction.

Officials delineated separate parcels to be auctioned, using crime scene tape, and tagged each one with a number.

Bidding was then by those numbered lots with the buyer ending up owning everything within that lot.

Buyers were told they had 30 days to remove items.

The county isn’t under any illusion what happened last Wednesday will be the end of the cleanup.

Young said scrap iron left behind will be sold and emphasized all money raised will go toward the cleanup effort, expected to eventually cost several hundreds of thousands of dollars.

He said a large amount of items remain to be disposed of including old tires, lumber, appliances and “trash.”

Young told the group of bidders all items remaining will be gathered and hauled off.

“This process will continue until the property is clean,” he said. “Pursuant to the law, we will demand payment from Mr. Thrasher and if full payment is not received we will assess a lien on the property for the amount of the cleanup, less any funds received, and thereafter foreclose on the lien.”

AUCTIONEER—Young expressed appreciation to Bell County Sheriff Eddy Lange who conducted the auction at no charge.

“He did an outstanding job,” Young said.

The judge also lauded Milam County Sheriff Chris White. “He has been involved in this from the beginning,” Young said.

Also assisting with the auction were Milam Sheriff’s Lt. John Mendoza, Capt. Mike Clore and Administrative Assistant Wynema Adams.

Young expressed appreciation to Milam County employees Cindy De La Rose, Susanne Gelner and Michelle Morgan for their assistance.