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Lexington code enforcement director stresses customer service, abatement strategy and 311 tracking
Summary
Director Lee Steele told Sixth District Councilwoman Denise Gray that code enforcement has emphasized a formal training program, expanded abatement use over multiple fines, and better tracking via Lexcall (3‑1‑1) to speed resolutions and improve customer service.
Director Lee Steele of Lexington’s Division of Code Enforcement told Sixth District Councilwoman Denise Gray on May 20 that the division has reorganized around customer service and stepped up case‑handling and training.
Steele said the division now directs residents to Lexcall (311) as the single intake and tracking point for code and nuisance complaints; callers receive a case number and email updates when they provide contact information. The director said staff have been cross‑trained to route callers to the correct division when complaints do not fall under code enforcement.
Procedurally, Steele said the division is prioritizing abatements that fix public‑safety or blight issues immediately instead of issuing multiple fines. “If you can abate it for what you can give a citation for, let's get the problem out of the way,” he said, adding that the division moved from zero sidewalk abatements in two decades to five abated panels in the last six months and is now at six.
Steele described a new formalized training and onboarding program for code inspectors that extends from pre‑hire through roughly nine months on the job and leads to state certification. The division now also reroutes some cases toward programs such as housing repair assistance rather than defaulting to fines.
Gray and Steele ran a public‑facing segment called “Code Enforcement or Not,” during which Steele walked through typical resident questions—sidewalk responsibility, property owners’ responsibility for tree/ gutter runoff, complaints about billboards and lighting—and explained which city divisions handle each issue.
Steele emphasized that the division seeks to resolve cases through dialogue when possible and urged residents who receive notices to contact the listed inspector by phone or email to explore compliance schedules, alternate programs and phased solutions.
No new ordinance or budget vote was presented at the session; the discussion focused on operational changes, outreach and customer service.
