New Code Policy Offers Solace

After a fierce backlash last month, the Nelson City Council approved changes to its existing and controversial code enforcement policy. During the July meeting, residents lashed out in response to citations received for city code violations, where they received red tags for their infractions. In an effort to ease tensions, Councilman Duane Cronic offered a change to the policy.

“All it does,”

he said,

“is basically add one preliminary, informal step to the code violation enforcement policy.”

According to Cronic, the step contains several parts. The first part is a verbal warning delivered by the police officers to those violating city code.

“The complaint comes into the city hall,”

Cronic explained,

“The site (of the violation) is investigated by our code enforcer or our police officer. If a violation is found then it is documented.”

At this point, the verbal warning is given. Cronic said, though, he leaves the time to correct the matter up to the discretion of the police officer, due to varying circumstances. After this period, if the violation is not corrected the resident will then receive a citation, i.e. a red tag.

The other aspect of this is assessing the priority level of the violation. The highest priority, Cronin stated, is any code violations which impose an immediate danger to public safety or health and general welfare of the community. The second highest priority deals with violations related to development projects, such as zone ordinances. The third is a pro-active enforcement by council or staff; the fourth is reactive or complaint-based informative; the fifth is anonymous complaints posing no immediate threats to public safety or health and general welfare of the community, and the sixth and least priority is complaints associated with neighbors or civil disputes. All violations will be submitted to mayor Pro Tem Martha Tipton.

During the discussion, Councilman Jackie Jarrett suggested council should get more input from the residents before moving forward with the amendment. Cronic said, though, that council could amend it at a later time if need be. He stressed that the city needed an immediate, common-sense approach to the issue, a response to the relentless public outcry at last month’s meeting from residents who received citations (red tags left on doorknobs) for code violations, which included improperly posted election signs, pools without fences, the visibility of junk vehicles and vegetation (the prohibition of grass on properties exceeding 12 inches in height). Waiting another month for input from residents could conceivably allow for further tensions in the community. As such, Cronic felt the need for an immediate resolution to the issue. Before council approved the change, Councilman Jonathan Bishop made a motion to change the language of the policy, from “designee” to “police officer,” referring to the individual who will enforce the code. The council then approved the changes to the enforcement code unanimously.

Unlike July’s meeting, residents did not comment on the new policy, seeming to savor a solace in the change.