While North Kitsap is arguably one of the most scenic areas in the state of Washington, not everyone is doing his or her part to keep it that way. These folks are definitely and fortunately in the minority here, but the impact of what they do and — more importantly — don’t do directly impacts the majority of people who call this corner of the world home.

Like a bag of trash at the end of a beautiful hike in the Olympic Mountains, eyesores can ruin much more than aesthetics, they can ruin the entire feel of a place. Why certain residents make a conscious decision not to take care of their properties for the benefit of themselves and their neighbors is perplexing to say the least.

Yet such eyesores, both those that are readily visible and those that appear on side streets throughout North Kitsap continue to exist. The county is doing what it can in some cases, but others are simply chalked up to a lifestyle choice or poverty and ignored to one degree or another.

Well, about as much as a blight on the land can be.

The current push to remove aging vehicles and dilapidated items from a former trucking yard in Hansville is a prime example. Whether the site off of Little Boston Road is endangering the environment has yet to be determined, but for those who drive by it daily — especially in the colder months when foliage is sparse — can attest to fact that is it just plain hideous.

Even so, and while everything from the number of vehicles to how much work is taking place to remove them depends on who one asks, it’s difficult not to wonder whether the “recycling center” would be getting the same, if any, attention if it wasn’t located next to one of Hansville’s primary thoroughfares.

Would the county be getting involved if the scrap yard wasn’t so readily visible? Certainly, the number of resident complaints would be reduced drastically and the apparent lack of progress at the site would go largely unnoticed.

Is this a case of the squeaky wheel getting the grease, or are the environmental concerns sufficient to keep the project moving? If they are, why wasn’t the mess cleaned up years ago?

Eitherway, the onus here is twofold, lying equally on the property owner and the county to ensure that North Kitsap leads the rest of the county not only in its push for a clean environment but an environment that is free of eyesores as well.