Community services director reports roadwork and code-enforcement staffing gains, plans to resume dilapidated property process Oct. 1

Holly Juraki, Pecos's director of community services, updated the council on completed pavement and chip-seal projects, improvements in code-enforcement staffing and rising case activity and said the city plans to resume its dilapidated properties process on Oct. 1.

Juraki told council the city completed "115,000 square feet of roadway with pavement restoration" on the east side and a chip-seal program covering "58,000 square yards" on the north side. She said the city recently implemented new code-enforcement software to improve case tracking and that staffing has increased since May 2024. Juraki told the council code enforcement has grown from minimal calls to handling about "195 cases a month" after new officers were added, and that follow-ups increased from about "93 follow ups a month" to "130 follow ups a month."

Juraki gave background on staffing challenges after the COVID downturn and explained the state licensing requirement that new code officers serve as officers-in-training for one year under licensed staff before taking the licensing exam. She emphasized a compliance-first approach and said some violations require extended timelines because of legal processes or property-owner cooperation.

Juraki said the city will start initiating its dilapidated-properties process Oct. 1 and "bring to council those properties deemed dangerous or dilapidated." She asked for patience while staff continues to implement improvements and said the city intends to provide a monthly report identifying code activity.

Why it matters: code enforcement and street maintenance affect property conditions, public safety and neighborhood quality of life.

What happens next: staff will begin dilapidated property procedures Oct. 1, provide monthly reports on code activity and continue coordination on street repairs.