Mableton swears in first code enforcement team; council reviews draft code-enforcement ordinance

Mableton officials on April 23 formally introduced and swore in the city’s first dedicated code enforcement and building inspection staff and held a first reading of a new municipal code article that would establish code-enforcement authority and citation procedures.

The swearing-in included code supervisor Martine Innocent, code officers Shardae Franklin, Brandon Lamar and Deandre Brown, and building staff including Chief Building Official Marcus Robinson and building inspector David Brown. “This is our initial code enforcement team for the city of Mableton,” City Manager Michael Hughes said while introducing staff. Mayor Michael Owens administered the oath.

Council and staff then discussed an ordinance (Chapter 2, new Article 4) that would define code-enforcement officers’ powers, set citation contents and service procedures, and preserve nonexclusive enforcement remedies such as abatement and court actions. City Attorney (who introduced the ordinance draft) said the text defines “repeat violation,” describes citation form requirements and explains that citations are one tool among others available to the city.

Code Enforcement Director Al Ferrell told council the team is prioritizing outreach and voluntary compliance: since beginning operations in March the department has opened roughly 250 cases and seen an initial compliance rate of about 30–40 percent from outreach alone. Ferrell said staff would use warnings and education first and reserve court action for repeat or egregious violations. He also said the city plans to stand up a municipal court mid-summer to handle escalated cases.

Council members and staff also discussed how citations will be served when property owners live outside the city or out of state. Ferrell and the city attorney said the ordinance already includes alternative service methods (certified mail, delivery to a registered agent for businesses, posting) and that hand delivery is required “wherever possible and practical.” The city attorney said she will work with staff to ensure the ordinance language explicitly allows certified mail, posting and service on registered agents when hand delivery is impractical.

Managers said code enforcement will coordinate a public education campaign and community presentations and will integrate enforcement reporting with a forthcoming Mableton 311 app that will allow residents to report issues directly to staff. City Manager Hughes said the aim is to achieve compliance through outreach and reserve legal action for those who do not remedy violations.

Council did not vote on the ordinance; the item was presented for first reading and staff said it will return for second reading and adoption after the city attorney and staff incorporate suggested language changes.