Little problems ignored often evolve into big problems.

That’s the case with debris-strewn properties, junk cars, dilapidated buildings and disregard for animal-control laws.

It’s also the case regarding disruptive conduct, drug dealing, loitering and prostitution.

The city of Butler and other areas of the county are, to some degree, negatively affected by some or all of those problems. And, the city and other municipalities are, at least partially, to blame for the problems being as bad as they are.

In some cases, officials looked the other way, or didn’t know how to address them, when the problems were minor. Now they find themselves making extra efforts to rectify what should have been dealt with earlier.

That’s why the Connoquenessing Creek became such a dumping site over the years. Municipalities through which it passes never took the right steps to address the problems.

The Sept. 22 cleanup of a 10-mile stretch of the creek in Forward and Jackson townships and Harmony and Zelienople was just the start of the cleanup that’s needed for the 50-mile-long waterway.

In the city of Butler, the commendable emphasis on razing blighted properties is only part of what’s needed to make the city more attractive and decrease the threat of fires. Numerous yards and porches are strewn with debris that not only is an eyesore, but also a danger, because it attracts and harbors rodents and poses the threat of fire.

In addition to demolition of blighted structures, city officials, to their credit, have now kicked off another campaign to help make the city a more attractive place to live or work.

Four ordinance changes have been approved to address the growing incidence of nuisance properties and problems with private clubs, illegal gambling, loitering and prostitution.

While prostitution is less of an issue here than in bigger cities, it is an issue here nonetheless that detracts from the image that Butler seeks to project.

Likewise, the issue of trouble at private clubs, such as occurred at the now-closed Vertigo on West Cunningham Street, loitering in general and brazen on-the-street drug dealing — they all detract from Butler being seen as a safe place for families, having a good business atmosphere, and being a place people want to visit.

The key is to attack problems when they’re small. Indeed, the city’s major street problems evolved because officials for many years ignored problems when they were easier to address. Likewise, code enforcement measures in Butler over the years had been anemic. That’s why so many structures have had to be razed and why many others face the same fate.

Likewise, the city’s drug problem is going to continue to worsen until drug dealers feel so threatened or targeted that they decide it’s in their best interests to move elsewhere.

The district attorney’s drug task force is making inroads regarding the drug problem, and the city’s acquisition of a police dog should help with some of the problems on the streets. But the efforts against such problems must be unrelenting.

Announcements of “we’re going to crack down” on fill-in-theblank must cease. Rigid enforcement must be ongoing — and visible — every day of the year.

Sunday’s Butler Eagle article “Butler cracks down on vices” was good news for city residents and those who live, work or visit here.

Unfortunately, the city is working from a disadvantage because it failed to seriously address the problems when they were smaller and less widespread.