Cherryville council approves pilot contract with Alliance Code Enforcement

The Cherryville City Council voted unanimously to enter into a pilot contract with Alliance Code Enforcement to handle day-to-day code enforcement tasks, the city manager told the council.

City Manager Brian Dalton described the arrangement in detail: the contract would begin Feb. 1 and run through June as a trial period, with Alliance providing 10 hours per week to handle nuisance compliance tasks including letters and lien paperwork. "So we're looking at going into a contract with them that would be effective as of February the first of this year, and it would run through the June. So we have a good test period to see if this is the service that you like," Dalton said.

Dalton said the service is intended to free city staff to focus on planning and zoning while Alliance handles routine enforcement follow-up. He said complaints could be made directly to Alliance or routed through city staff and that the contractor already works with several nearby municipalities. Dalton described the proposed cost structure as $50 per hour for a 10-hour week (about $500 per week), per his presentation to the council.

Council members asked clarifying questions about how complaints would be submitted, whether costs could increase only at the city’s request, and the practical steps for onboarding property owners who live outside the area. After discussion, a motion to enter into and accept the contract was made, seconded and approved unanimously.