A kinder, gentler nation. That’s what one of our presidents called for. How’s that working out? Now, Augusta’s Planning and Zoning Director, Carla Delaney, is calling for a kinder, gentler code enforcement department.
No more uniforms for staff, no kevlar vest and no personal protection. Just a polite “please” should get the job done. Soon everything and everyone will be in compliance with the law and be totally shipshape.
In reality, this form of enforcement will not yield the results this city needs.
Delaney’s heart may be in the right place and has all of the good intentions; however, the road to ruin is oftentimes paved with good intentions.
Again, the standard reason for not getting things accomplished is “not enough money, not enough people.” Just maybe some of the code enforcement officers should do the job they were hired to do and not hide in plain sight.
One code enforcement officer’s favorite place to while away the hours is to park under a tree on Division Street, just outside of West View cemetery. Nothing to inspect there, but it’s a good sleeping place, though. Another favorite spot is the camp ground in the back park of Diamond Lakes recreation park. To be fair, this spot seems to be a favorite for many city departments.
This has been a long-time practice. When this was reported to enforcement supervisors, it was taken lightly. The reply given was, “They are probably doing their computer work.” Yes indeed. The inspectors are so adept with their computer programs, they can operate them in their sleep.
While having a short conversation with code enforcement’s Terrance Wilder, several questions were asked. The answers given were not precise but general.
Seems enforcement is down a couple of officers. I asked if there were 12 officers who could allow for some night time and weekend enforcement, especially in the downtown business area.
Code enforcement is needed for the food trucks parking in undesignated areas. Also, people are setting up grills and tables on the sidewalks and cooking food to sell. Others have coolers with soft drinks and some even alcohol to sell.
This is all taking place across from and adjacent to legal licensed businesses.
I was told it would be too dangerous for the officers to try to enforce these infractions. The Sheriff’s Office should be the enforcement for this action.
Wait a minute. Too dangerous to enforce?
We often hear how safe the downtown area is, and we need our citizens to feel safe to visit and enjoy downtown. But it’s too dangerous to enforce the law breakers? Talk about mixed signals and messages.
I asked if the code enforcement would be better served under the direction of the Marshal’s office. A quick and direct NO was the answer. Code enforcement doesn’t want to be viewed as law enforcement as it may appear threatening to the violators.
Let’s take a quick look at the enforcement’s $ 50,000 program to help property owners rent lawn equipment and other tools to maintain their property. How exactly is this program to be handled and overseen? Remember, there are not enough employees to handle things as they are now. Will someone be hired to oversee this program? Where will the salary come from? What amount of salary will be paid?
Foolish questions, I know.
How will the money be paid out? Who is eligible? How does the program track the rented equipment? When it is not returned, does the city pay the rental company for the equipment? Will the city prosecute the offender?
Oops, sorry. That would appear to be a threatening action. Will this program be doomed to fail from the start? We’ll just have to wait and see.
There have been millions of dollars designated to handle blighted properties. Even the Landbank got a bucket full of that money. What has been done? What’s the accomplishment here? Where is the report telling of the progress being made?
The millions of dollars are certainly not being spent in District 1 and not so much in District 2 either. So where? Point in the right direction. In District 1, burned out buildings still stand even after years.
Boarded up and broken windows have become the norm all over the city. Buildings with the roofs caved in still stand even when it appears a strong wind would blow over the empty brick facade.
Meanwhile, the people living in the area get to walk out their doors everyday and see this is not being taken care of.
Maybe it would be a good idea for code enforcement officers to take a walk through some of these abandoned and blighted properties. There is sadly a better than average chance they would find a couple of bodies. During cold weather, not every homeless or street person goes to a shelter. There are a variety of reasons for not going to the shelter, and so they set up shop in a vacant and blighted building instead.
Maybe code enforcement should come up with a comprehensive program to get the job done. Do they have assigned sectors? Why don’t they act and not react?
Explanations don’t come easy when department directors are asked questions. In fact, they can become down right indignant and belligerent.
Such was the case during the last Commission meeting of 2022. A department director stood at the podium and pretty much said to the commissioners that if the commission didn’t like the way he was doing his job, he could pretty much leave.
Folks, the wagons are circled. Changes in management are certainly in order.
