FORT CALHOUN, Neb. (WOWT) – An eye-popping situation in the wooded countryside north of metro Omaha has forced angry neighbors to take legal action. They issued a court order for the cleanup and the property owner was summoned to appear before the judge.

More than a year ago, a judge ordered the owner of a Washington County junkyard to remove all parts and vehicles from his property. Not making enough progress, neighbors hope a cleanup will begin once and for all with civil contempt of court.

“Everybody is disgusted by the sight and sounds of it,” said Chris Ostranic, who lives nearby. “Something needs to be done.”

six months agoChris and several other neighbors told News 6 about the lawsuit they filed to get the junkyard cleaned up. After several missed deadlines, neighbors say it’s time for the court to take a tougher stance and send a message that this mess in the woodland should not be tolerated.

Junkyard owner Michael Pick argued that he worked hard to clean up his property as his own attorney. He claims that 62 loads of scrap, 7,000 batteries and 150 vehicles were taken away. But Pick told the judge he ran out of time to do any more work.

“If he was working as hard on this property as he said he was, it should have been cleaned up,” Ostranic said.

District court judge Bryan Meismer ordered Pick to pay $9,600. Part of the amount is for the fine, the other $3,5000 is to cover the legal costs of the neighbors’ lawyers.

“Our client’s goal is to get the property cleaned up and we hope this is one step in what has been a long process for them and will eventually get this junk removed from the property,” said Brad, the neighbors’ attorney. Enwistle.

After the hearing ended, Pick declined to comment to 6 News; His sister gets in his way. The two then leave the back door out, but Pick can’t avoid the judge’s order to pay a fine for disobedience within 60 days, and in the meantime his nephews hope this means they’ll see a significant cleanup of the property.

“I hope Mr. Pick understands that this is a situation that is getting out of control and he needs to put up with it,” Ostranic said. “He has to comply.”

Pick told the judge he would have a hard time paying the full contempt fine before the deadline, but he would be allowed to make the payments over time.

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