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Byram board begins drafting options to require apartment owners to improve lighting, security
Summary
A board member and public-safety officials said management at some apartment communities has not implemented basic security measures; the board directed staff and the city attorney to research legal options including an ordinance to require mitigation (lighting, cameras, patrols) while avoiding measures that would punish residents.
Board members flagged ongoing safety concerns in several apartment complexes and discussed next steps, including legal review of a potential ordinance requiring property owners to mitigate safety risks.
A board member summarized repeated resident complaints about car break‑ins and poor lighting and told the board staff had asked the property managers on multiple occasions to make simple improvements. “We’ve been talking to them about those roads for 3, 4 years,” a board member said, arguing the city needs tools to pressure property managers to carry out basic safety work. The member said the city’s police and fire leadership had tried informal outreach but had seen little follow‑through from some managers.
The fire chief and other members noted there are legal limits on what the city can require and that property owners may challenge any ordinance; staff said they had already begun legal research and that the city attorney is drafting potential measures. Board members asked staff for a two‑year crime‑data printout for the complexes so the board can compare trends and justify any regulatory changes.
Board members emphasized the need for remedies that protect residents rather than punish them. Staff said they will continue to work with the city attorney to develop proposed language and next steps for board consideration.
Next steps: staff and legal will continue research, prepare draft ordinance options and supply crime‑data reports requested by board members for further evaluation.
