The general definition of a neighborhood is a group of individuals who live in the general vicinity of one another and share some common bonds.

But that doesn’t even describe the closeness of some Burlington residents who came together several years ago in a fight to keep their community free of eyesores and potential health hazards.

That civic minded spirit and togetherness came to fruition last week when excavating crews demolished an abandoned trailer on Howard Lane in the community.

This was a blight that nearby residents fought hard to have removed including working with the health department, the Fayette Township Trustees and even going to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.

Ultimately, the Lawrence County Commissioners used grant funding through the Ironton-Lawrence County Community Action Organization to raze the structure and remove this health hazard that was contaminating the area with sewage and becoming the home to pests and rodents.

These long-standing problems are exactly what grant dollars like these need to be used for. Hopefully the expense will still be assessed to the deadbeat property owner and added to their taxes, which may one day be recouped through a sheriff’s sale.

These Burlington citizens led by example and showed others the power of perseverance and having a singular voice for your neighborhood.