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Jackson council approves MOU with Memphis firm to speed code enforcement, use Neighborhood Preservation Act
Summary
Council authorized a memorandum of understanding with a Memphis-based code enforcement management academy to review city code processes and train staff on using the Neighborhood Preservation Act; the contract is $6,000 plus up to $2,500 in reimbursable expenses.
The Jackson City Council voted Oct. 14 to approve a memorandum of understanding with Strategic Code Enforcement Management Academy, a Memphis organization that will review local code-enforcement processes and provide training on using the Neighborhood Preservation Act.
Mister Scholtes, a city staff member who presented the item, said the firm will analyze current procedures to find ways to shorten the time it takes to correct trash, overgrown vegetation and other code violations. "This is an organization out of Memphis that helps code enforcement departments analyze their processes to improve time in getting issues of trash, weeds, grass addressed sooner," Scholtes said.
Scholtes also noted the firm has "expertise in the Neighborhood Preservation Act," a Tennessee state law that, he said, Memphis and Jackson are eligible to use. Scholtes said the academy has used multiple court cases to help address blight through that law and will train Jackson's staff to use it.
The cost presented to the council was $6,000 plus up to $2,500 in reimbursable travel and expenses, Scholtes said. Council members asked whether the agreement would speed remediation and Scholtes said the firm will review processes and recommend changes the city can implement.
The council approved the memorandum of understanding by unanimous vote, 9 to 0. City staff said the work is intended to accelerate remediation of code violations and to show staff how to use state law tools to pursue blight cases more efficiently.
The MOU will result in a staff review and training; any use of the Neighborhood Preservation Act would follow legal procedures and court processes required by state law.
