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Freeport moves code enforcement back to Building and Codes Department, staff says
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Summary
Freeport's director of building and codes announced the city's code enforcement unit has been returned from the police department to the Building and Codes Department and is now housed in the building department offices; staff said the change improves coordination and inspector availability.
Reggie Harris, Freeport's director of building and codes, told the council on April 28 that the city's code enforcement unit, which had been operating under the police department on an interim basis, has been returned to the Building and Codes Department and is now located in the building department office at 1201 North Avenue.
Harris said the reorganization reunites building inspections and code enforcement under one department and should provide operational and financial efficiencies. "This is a natural pairing," he said, adding that moving code functions back to building and codes gives the city more inspectors and improves coordination with permitting and enforcement work.
Council members expressed support for the move and asked questions about staffing and the prior interim arrangement; Harris noted the prior temporary placement under the police department followed a personnel transition and that the change restores a permanent departmental structure.
Why it matters City officials said the change is intended to strengthen code enforcement and streamline inspections by placing related functions in a single department. Harris said he will continue to brief the council on implementation details as staff finalize logistics and staffing.
Next steps Harris said the department will proceed with operational integration and community outreach; no formal council vote was recorded on the reorganization during this meeting.
