Logansport code enforcement officer Randy Ulery (left) speaks with Logansport Mayor Chris Martin in this file photo. Submitted photo
Representatives from places like Kokomo, Goshen and Madison filled Logansport’s city council chambers Thursday morning.
There were roughly two dozen of them, representing 14 cities. They were there to discuss the various ways their municipalities tackle code enforcement.
Organized by Randy Ulery, Logansport’s code enforcement officer, it was the third time the various code enforcement employees gathered to bounce ideas off each other.
He explained the scope of their work varies from city to city — for example, some code enforcement officers also work as their city’s building inspector — so taking time to gather and compare methodology can help each city improve the way they handle code enforcement.
For Logansport, that meant fielding questions about how other cities deal with vacant properties, out of state owners and how to address liens.
“Everybody says we need housing, there’s no housing,” Ulery said. “Look at a lot of the properties we have that are sitting empty, or they’re just not being taken care of. That’s what’s frustrating.”
In Fort Wayne, the neighborhood code inspector is able to put a permanent injunction on a property after giving three notices in a year. That allows the city to put a fine on the property and clean it each time the owner fails to obey an ordinance, such as leaving trash in the yard.
In Logansport, code enforcement officers have to give property owners a heads up each time they plan to do a property cleanup.
“The time frame is what bugs me,” Ulery said, later adding, “They don’t understand how long the processes take, and that’s the biggest frustration.”
For example, if there’s a broken down car in somebody’s yard, the resident has 21 days to move it before Ulery can tag it. Then, it’s another 21 days until he can tow it. If the car gets moved from one side of the property to another, Ulery is able to issue a citation but the 21 days restart.
The delay can also become a compounding issue, Ulery said, when neighbors stop taking care of their own properties thinking code enforcement isn’t working on making sure problematic properties are being cleaned up.
Ulery explained he’s working on updating the city’s code enforcement ordinances to reduce the amount of time between receiving a complaint and actually being able to address the complaint. The plan, he explained, is to soon be able to post a notice and then do the cleanup after 10 days.
A few of the topics also addressed safety for code enforcement officers.
Roughly half of the participants raised their hands when Ulery asked how many of them had been threatened or approached while they were off the clock.
In Delphi, the city’s code enforcement officer is outfitted by the local police department with a stab-proof vest and similar attire. It helps pass the message along that they shouldn’t be threatened.
In Logansport, Ulery said, he usually has another code enforcement officer, the city’s building inspector or a police officer hangout nearby.
Ulery also said he would look into putting together a safety course for everyone in attendance.
As the meeting came to an end, Ulery said he was happy with the turnout. Code enforcement employees swapped contact information and spilled out into the stairway of City Hall, discussing ideas to improve the way their municipalities address things.
“I hope everyone got something out of it,” Ulery said.
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