A county resident accused of running a salvage business withouta license and littering his yard with junk automobiles hasresponded to complaints made by his neighbors and purchased abusiness license.

Thirty-five residents of Greenwood Lane signed a petition beingcirculated by Dr. Dorothy Alexander that lodged several complaintsagainst John Lenoir, who owns approximately six acres at 326Greenwood Lane. They claim he operates an auto salvage business butdoes not have a business license. They also claim his property,littered with stripped automobiles, is an “eyesore” and is greatlylowering their property values.

Lenoir did not deny that he didn’t have a business licenseThursday.

“I don’t have a business license. I don’t consider it a businessany more than someone who goes around picking up cans,” hesaid.

He did, however, purchase a privilege license under the nameCinique Lenoir Salvage Yard when Tax Assessor/Collector NancyJordan visited his property Friday morning. The stated business onthe license is crushing cars.

Jordan had first inspected the property in October or Novemberat the request of Lenoir’s neighbors, but there was no evidence ofentrepreneurial enterprise at that time.

“When I went back today, there was some evidence of businessactivity,” she said Friday. “I sold him the license at thescene.”

Lenoir also said he has never denied that automobile parts fromvehicles have left his property. He only denies selling them. Theauto parts don’t affect his business of crushing cars, and heallows anyone who needs a part he has to take it.

“I never told anyone I don’t sell. I buy and sell. But Icouldn’t afford a business if I wanted one,” he said, citing taxesand other associated costs of operating a business.

Lenoir, 57, said he lives month-to-month on Social Securitydisability and what little he can sell from crushing junkautomobiles and selling the iron by the pound.

“What she’s (Dr. Alexander) doing is just harmful to someonetrying to get by and survive (on a limited income),” he said.

Lenoir’s neighbors want him to do three things — get a businesslicense, build a fence to eliminate dangers to children and frompests, and to keep the business 1,000 feet from the main road inaccordance to state law regarding salvage yards.

As to the other complaints, Lenoir said he has worked hard toimprove the property and does improvements as he can affordthem.

“I can do that. I’m working on this,” he said.

Since he moved onto the property, Lenoir said, he has removedbrush and brambles, eliminated pests and dangers such as mice andsnakes, and built fences. One fence cost him $2,500 for a distanceof nearly 180 feet. He also built about 700 yards of field fencealong one side of the property.

“I intend to do better, but at my pace,” he said. “They may sayit looks junky, but it’s not bad. I wouldn’t even be fooling withthe junk if I had another income.”

He said at first he kept the junked vehicles about 300 yardsfrom the road, approximately half the distance of his property. Hemoved the vehicles up to the road about six months ago because hehad heard Alexander had been complaining, although he said she hadmade no attempts to contact him.

“I thought that if I put the cars there maybe she would come seeme,” he said.