As well, HOPE Initiative co-director Cathy Hamilton has approached the city council in recent months and stressed her organization’s belief that code enforcement is an important component in addressing dilapidated and abandoned properties.

Several city and county officials visited Muncie’s code enforcement court in June, 2014 to see how that city addresses code enforcement and related issues. The idea of a Housing Court to address code enforcement has been discussed at city council meetings, though no action was taken.

York and the commissioners are now revisiting the idea and moving forward with it.

“The idea is designed to streamline each office, save money, and make building codes and fees more uniform,” commissioner Kim Cronk said.

“Right now, the Health Department, city building inspector and county building inspector should all be working through a code enforcement officer — and we don’t even have one,” York said. “We also need a code enforcement board that violators would appear in front of. We’re trying to combine three services into one, and right now we’re right in the middle of doing that.”

Building codes, permit and inspection fees and related charges currently are being reviewed because the county’s fee structure is significantly lower than the city’s. For example, the city charges $55 per inspection, while the city charges $25. For a construction project valued between $500 and $1,000 the city’s permit fee is $20 and the county’s is $10. For a project valued between $10,500 and $11,499 the city’s permit fee is $75 while the county’s is $37.50; and for a project valued between $19,500 and $20,499 the city charges $111 while the county’s fee is $48.75.

Cronk said a public hearing on this aspect of the possible merger will likely take place in the next month, so area residents will have an opportunity to weigh in.

The idea of combining offices is far from finalized, but Cronk and York envision Henry County Building Inspector Larry Toy moving to the city’s building department where he would share the staff there.

“Both the county and city’s building inspector offices are understaffed, and this would allow them to help each other out,” York said. “Again, code enforcement is the main thing. We have a lot of people getting by with different violations. For example, when a meth house gets closed down, the health department has to deal with it all by themselves and they should have support from both the city and county. All three need to be working together.”

York said if the offices are combined the city would continue to pay for the city building inspector’s salary and benefits and the county will continue to pay for the county building inspector. If an additional person were hired to enforce codes, a pay scale would need to be established, as would other finance details.

The real issue with respect to code enforcement, according to the mayor, is establishing a code enforcement board.

“This cannot happen until there is a board behind a code enforcement officer to enforce the fines or penalties that (a code enforcement officer) hands out,” York said, adding that such a board would consist of 5 or 6 volunteers with representation from the city and county.

York said he is in the process of assembling such a panel, that he would like to have it in place “as soon as possible,” and that he hopes the restructured office and code enforcement panel are in place before the end of the year.

Code enforcement on the radar in Spiceland

SPICELAND — Town council members gave the code enforcement officer instructions on how far they want him to go when dealing with non-cooperative citizens.

Henry County Commissioner Kim Cronk works part-time as the Spiceland Code Enforcement Officer. He appeared before the town council Tuesday seeking clarification on performance of his duties.

"I'm just needing some direction on what you want me to do," he said.

Cronk said 99 percent of the town residents he approaches about a code compliance issue are cooperative, but the remaining 1 percent aren't as obliging.

The three areas Cronk wanted direction on were non-licensed or non-operational vehicles parked on town streets; tall grass, weeds and rank vegetation in areas adjacent to the recently annexed streets near Flying J and Mr. Fuel travel centers; and substandard houses.

On the advice of town attorney Tracy Newhouse, council president Darrin Jacobs instructed Cronk to have the Henry County Sheriff's Department or Indiana State Police tag illegal vehicles. Tagged vehicles then have 30 days to be removed or they will be towed. If the vehicle owner doesn't pay to recover the vehicle it can be sold at auction.

Regarding tall grass, weeds and rank vegetation near the truckstops, it was agreed those property owners should be treated like everyone else.

"If they don't keep it mowed notify them by mail. If they don't comply we mow it, the town charges them and adds the cost to their tax bill," Newhouse said.

Cronk also was instructed to "do what is necessary" to address substandard houses, including performing title searches and contacting the owners. If the concerns aren't addressed in a timely manner, the council has the option of condemning any given structure and beginning the demolition process.