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Georgetown code enforcement details enforcement powers, recent recoveries and demolitions
Summary
Chief Johnson told council the code enforcement division (under the fire department) enforces the International Property Maintenance Code, recovered about $82,000 to date, rehabilitated 20 properties and demolished 68 since 2017; council asked for more data tracking and public education.
Chief Johnson presented an overview of the Georgetown code enforcement division and its authority at the Aug. 25 council meeting, describing the division's interlocal agreement, code basis, staffing and recent enforcement results.
Johnson said the interlocal agreement formed in 2016 and that the office enforces a locally amended version of the International Property Maintenance Code (2012 edition), noting the interlocal is governed under state interlocal cooperation authority (KRS references used in the presentation). He said the city is evaluating adoption of the 2024 edition but had not finalized that change.
Outlining the division structure, Johnson said the office includes an assistant chief of prevention as director, a senior code enforcement officer (Wade), two code officers (including Greg Jewett) and a part-time administrative assistant. He listed the top 10 violations (tall grass/weeds, broken sidewalks, improper trash/accumulation, vehicles in lawns, illegal signs, inoperable vehicles, unauthorized home businesses, building without permit, animal violations) and highlighted success stories with before-and-after photos.
On budgets and outcomes, Johnson said the city typically budgets about $65,000 annually for abatements but had trimmed that to $50,000 this year. "We have recovered, to date, $82,000 for city and county properties," he said, and added that 20 properties have been rehabilitated and 68 properties demolished since 2017. Johnson said most abatement expenses are recovered later through liens and that the office recently began handling small-scale county abatements in-house to streamline the process.
Councilors asked about data and metrics. Johnson said call volume is steadily increasing and that the division will be added to a new CityWorks software suite to improve run tracking, investigations and preventative outreach. He cautioned that public education may increase complaint volume even as it raises compliance awareness.
