Mayor urges Franklin County to create a code-enforcement position

Mayor Chris Guess told the Franklin County Board of Commissioners Legislative Committee on March 7 that the county needs a dedicated code enforcement position to address nuisance properties.

Guess distributed information on nuisance laws and regulations and said he “strongly feels that we need a code enforcement person,” adding he would prefer the position be based in the mayor’s office so he can work closely with the officer. The committee did not vote on creating the position at the meeting.

Committee member Grant Benere said some counties fund code officers through fees tied to service of petitions, and asked Mayor Guess to contact the Putnam County mayor to learn how that county enforces nuisance rules for out-of-town owners, including properties passed down through inheritance with tax liens. Commissioner Tyler Bauer asked what percentage of problem properties are owned by out-of-town owners; no figure was provided.

The proposal is at an early stage: the mayor said he would reach out to Putnam County to gather enforcement options and report back. The Legislative Committee is scheduled to meet next on April 4, 2023.