On Friday, the second season of Opportunity Clean Sweep begins.

This year the event runs through December 31, Roanoke Rapids Public Works Director Richard Parnell said Friday.

“It will be just like last year,” he said. “Personnel will notify (property owners) of Chapter 96 violations and give them 10 days to clean it up.”

If property owners fail to address the problems like abandoned vehicles, trash, junk, debris, noxious vegetation and other code enforcement issues such as dilapidated fencing and storage buildings, the city will clean it up.

The city, however, will charge a $250 administrative fee plus the cost of cleanup.

There will be some differences in the enforcement this year, Parnell said. “Last year we walked door to door. This year it will not be as intense.”

The city will spend three days a week on inspections and two days a week on paperwork and followups.

During November public works will collect items not normally collected by the sanitation crews as long as it has been previously arranged and approved.

To set up an appointment call 252-533-2846.

Items not normally collected include lumber, bricks, concrete, roofing and shingles, sheetrock, plaster, wallboard and stumps or logs no more than 12 inches in diameter or 8 feet in length.

Response to last year’s program was positive, Parnell said. “Hopefully, every year it will become less.”

The city did learn some things to improve the operation for this year. “We were so involved with inspections we didn’t follow through on the abatement end,” Parnell said. “There was so much out there last year it took all of our time.”

Three public works employees, one law enforcement officer and one code enforcement officer dedicated their time to the operation last year and Parnell believes this time there won’t be as many problems. “I hope not. I hope we did a good job last year. We’re still going to have violations that crop up. Most cleaned up and took care of their mess.”

The operation came before Mayor Emery Doughtie was sworn in last year. “I kind of caught the tail end of it. This will be the first one I’m fully involved in. I think it’s a good thing. It’s an overall effort to enhance the looks and aesthetics of the town.”