Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Code Enforcement topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Morris council discusses tougher enforcement for junk/nuisance complaints
Summary
Council and staff discussed activating and streamlining enforcement under Chapter 10 (junk/nuisance), using administrative hearings, abatement orders and special assessments to remove hazardous items and recover cleanup costs.
Council members and staff spent significant time reviewing the city—s junk and nuisance enforcement options in Chapter 10, including administrative hearings, abatement orders and special assessments.
Staff explained that the city—s public works director currently issues letters and that repeated noncompliance has led some matters to the court system; the draft approach would rely on administrative hearings before the council to make a finding of nuisance and issue abatement orders. "Hearings shall be held before the council at a regular or special meeting... if abatement is not completed by the date ordered, the city may enter upon the premises and remove the offending item or items," staff said while walking through Section 10.23. The staff explanation noted any items of value could be sold locally and unrecoverable items disposed of, and that the value of offensive items must be included in findings and could be certified as a special assessment to recover clean-up costs.
Council members asked who would identify properties and issue citations; staff said public works and city staff would initiate notices and communications and that the council would step in for hearings when needed. A resident, Jay Fear, recalled prior instances when enforcement required law enforcement assistance and urged the council to proceed.
Council directed staff to begin the enforcement steps and to coordinate notices to the public before programmatic enforcement begins.
