A new ordinance in Dunbar will make people who run meth labs pay up!

Anyone who operates a lab in Dunbar will not just face charges, they'll also have to pay the cost of cleaning it up.

Dunbar police hope the ordinance will make meth users think twice before moving into their town.

Mark Humphreys of Dunbar says, ""I think it'll be great that they do this. This will force property owners to get better occupants in their places of residence."

Cleaning up meth is not cheap. It costs the City of Dunbar $275 for every square foot contaminated by meth.

Dunbar's Mayor Roger Wolfe thought the city should shift the cost from taxpayers to law breakers.

Mayor Roger Wolfe said, "We don't think the citizens should bear the costs of demolishing the property because of drug dealers. So we are protecting our citizens."

With only seven documented cases this year, Dunbar's police chief thinks this new ordinance will send a strong message to drug dealers.

Police Chief Earl Whittington says, "Don’t come to Dunbar because we're going to be on you, stay on you until you leave. We don't want you here. Our community doesn't need you here. We don't want you here and we won't tolerate you being here."

It will take about ten days for this new ordinance to go into effect.

Child advocates meet in Charleston Wednesday for a meth summit, which will focus on how to protect kids who live in homes where meth is made.