JONESBORO, Ga. — State prisoners spent Friday morning cleaning up dilapidated foreclosed homes in Clayton County.
Inmates were busy clearing weeds and picking up trash on the first day of what is expected to be a big cleanup project. Clayton County commissioners signed an ordinance allowing inmates to force clean properties last month.
Neighbors said the overgrown yards had become an eyesore as well as a dumping ground.
"It's depressing coming home and seeing all this, and you're trying so hard to keep your yard looking nice," said Connie Kenealy.
She lives next door to four homes that were abandoned by developers more than a year ago. They are among nearly 400 properties countywide that will eventually get a makeover, county officials said.
Officials said they saved about $5,000 by not hiring a private company. Property owners will get the bill tacked on to their property taxes.
The next step is to board up the houses so that no one can get inside.
WSBTV
