City tries new system to reduce blight

Soon residents will see blight elimination officers patrolling the streets, ticketing for weeds, broken glass, abandoned vehicles and other code violations.

"The Blight Elimination Ordinance is a response to the neighborhood action sessions." Mayor Dayne Walling said, referring to meetings held in each of the city's nine wards through 2009 and early 2010. "Residents all across town identified blight and code enforcement as a top priority. From that input, we started looking at an ordinance enforcement program."

The ordinance, signed by Walling in July, was enabled by a change in state law that allows municipalities to establish enforcement bureaus, explained Councilman Dale Weighill (Ward 7).

Previously, blight violations were reported to the 68th District Court where there was a "backlog of bureaucracy," Weighill said.

A Blight Elimination Administration Bureau has been established at City Hall, presided over by attorney Angela Watkins.

"Having the tribunal puts real teeth into the enforcement process," Walling said.

For the first violation, a resident will be issued a written violation and fined. The penalty for a blight violation will be a civil fine of up to $500. If the violation is committed by a first-time offender and is corrected, the officer may waive the fine, according to the ordinance.

The violation may be appealed at the Blight Elimination Administration Bureau.

The central difference between the new blight ordinance and previous code, Walling said, is the enforcement. "Before, the individual was given a warning. Now there is immediate ticketing and a timeline to correct the problem," he said.

Unpaid fines will be added to the violator's property taxes and can result in criminal prosecution, Walling said.

There has been no change in definition of blight itself, Weighill said, a statement Walling echoed.

"Weeds, trash, glass and abandoned vehicles were common complaints at the action sessions," said Walling.

"People in the Seventh Ward are concerned about the deterioration of neighborhoods. People want to nip this in the bud. Blight is a symptom of deterioration," Weighill said.

The ordinance will be enforced by six blight elimination officers. The officers are new hires. They are part-time employees, receive no benefits and are paid through block grant funding.

Officers will respond to calls as well as patrol in spare police cars. Cruising should further a sense of connection with neighborhood residents. Blight elimination officers may become familiar faces at neighborhood association meetings, Weighill said.

Each officer will have an individual area of focus, but blight elimination will be a coordinated effort, Walling said. Officers will work together on large problem areas and will bring in police cooperation where necessary.

"Officers will concentrate a significant amount of work on specific areas to build relationships and commitment to neighborhoods," Walling said.

Weighill said Walling has stressed the intent of the ordinance is not to harass people for the sake of money.

"It's about a cleaner city, not acquiring revenue," Weighill said. "There is not going to be a frenzy of ticket writing right off the bat."

"The real purpose is to get property owners and residents to take care of their properties and restore pride in neighborhoods," Walling said.

Mott Park Neighborhood Association member Amber Carey said she has conflicting views on the ordinance.

"On one hand, I would hope people would pay the fine and make the change to improve the community. On the other hand, I don't want it to effect the city negatively. I don't want people to get kicked out of their homes."

Mott Park resident J.J. Shaver agreed.

"How is the tax situation going to work? Say you have an elderly person in a house they've had many years, receiving no help from their family. I would like to see a disability exemption, where in lieu of the fine, there is a program where people are given assistance," he said.

Officers will complete training and begin patrolling in August. Public education on the ordinance will begin soon, including sending brochures to houses across the city, Walling said.

A blight elimination hotline, (810) 237-2090, has been set up for complaints.

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