Neglect is among the worst things that can happen to a building, a piece of property or a neighborhood.

Unfortunately for a number of reasons some houses, lots and buildings in our community fall often into a state of disrepair due to neglect.

In some cases the cause is that elderly or poor owners simply cannot afford the repairs or clean up.

In other cases, the owners may have inherited the properties in question and simply have no connection to the area and thus don’t care.

Regardless of the cause, the Town of Vidalia is right on the mark in its recent announcement of plans to increase enforcement of the town’s blighted property ordinance.

From grass that has been allowed to grow untended for months and months to buildings that have been allowed to become derelict, the symptoms of neglect are all over.

Vidalia leaders say they plan to begin the process of citing owners of some of the town’s worst blighted properties so the town can begin the process of cleaning up the problems.

The cost of the repairs or clean up — if ultimately done by the town — can eventually be recouped by putting the bill on the property owner’s tax bill.

We encourage and applaud the Vidalia administration for proceeding with the work. It’s critical to the surrounding property owners that these blighted areas get cleaned up.