Huntland confronts long-running code violations; board considers training officers or hiring inspector

Residents pressed the Board of Mayor and Aldermen on April 21 to address longstanding property-maintenance problems, telling officials the town has multiple unsightly and potentially hazardous properties that have received repeated complaints.

City Recorder Lee Anne Boggs explained that Huntland contracted with inspector Andrew Piere to apply the 2024 International Property Maintenance Code, but she reported Piere had been unresponsive and that she had to call from a different number to reach him. Ms. Boggs said Piere suggested training one or two part-time police officers to perform municipal-code inspections; she verified with MTAS that officers can be trained and that an ordinance will be required to authorize the arrangement. MTAS Regional Manager Patrick Marsh offered to assist with drafting an ordinance if the board moves forward.

Several public commenters urged faster enforcement. One audience member said the town’s unkempt properties have persisted for years and asked officials to ‘‘take this contract and Boom, Boom, Boom’’ because the problem is longstanding. Alderman Dace Benson and Ms. Boggs noted a state-approved three-month training program (eight 7-hour courses with tests) would be required for municipal-code duties; the board discussed logistics such as whether off-duty officers would be armed and how civil citation powers would be used. Police representative Joshua Alexander said he was cautious about civil enforcement because officers are a criminal-responding entity and that the city code approach differs from state criminal statutes.

The board asked Ms. Boggs to meet with the inspector and to bring options back to the board; no ordinance vote or formal hiring decision was taken on April 21.