Url: http://www.bhpioneer.com/local_news/article_0a91d36e-4895-11e3-9cd8-0019bb2963f4.html
For the last couple of months, the new property maintenance code officer has worked on more than 70 cases in Spearfish. But to Pat Fahey it’s not just about the number of cases, it’s about educating residents so the cases will gradually diminish over time.
“First and foremost, we want to emphasize achieving voluntary compliance of the code requirements with our residents through education and information,” he said.
After taking on the city’s newest position, Fahey has created several brochures, guideline checklists and a door hanger to notify property owners, if or when, a violation of city code has occurred.
“Properties found out of compliance of the requirements will generally be addressed in the prioritized order of safety, health, and aesthetic concerns,” he said.
As of this week, there are 29 active cases, and there have been 41 cases opened and closed. After storm Atlas slammed the Black Hills, Fahey made 13 in-person contacts and left 22 door hangers notifying homeowners of the branch removal guidelines, but never considered them violations.
When presenting an update to the Spearfish City Council Monday, he expressed how important it is residents are aware of the property maintenance codes.
“Voluntary compliance, as opposed to enforced compliance, generally is more permanent, achieves greater accomplishment of our goals, and is more widely accepted by the community,” he said.
When someone calls in a complaint, they usually call city hall. Articles:
“I’d rather talk with them face-to-face so I can get to know the property owner, and have a discussion with them about the complaint,” Fahey said. “If there is a violation, I talk about what improvements need to be made, and the timeline.”
A few weeks after the notice, he’ll double check the property and if it’s apparent that some improvements have been made, he’ll leave them alone and let them do their own thing.
“I look at each case differently and prioritize that complaint based on three sets of criteria,” Fahey said. “If there is a safety issue where someone can get injured or hurt, that goes to the top of the list.”
Address: 818 Hunterdon St,
Newark, NJ, 7112
Call: 888-215-5457
The second factor considered is whether the violation is becoming a health issue, and the third is aesthetics and beautification.
A lot of times the violations are easy to overcome. In some cases it’s unsightly weeds or overgrown landscapes, a few pieces of junk, trash, obstructions or an RV parked out front. In others, it’s the exterior of the home or building that needs work, such as a roof and foundation repairs, new paint or stain and fences that need to be maintained.
“When I get one complaint, I often find that one property owner’s violation can be the same as their neighbor’s with a similar violation,” Fahey said. “So, I speak with them too.”
But, the obstacle Fahey faces in Spearfish is the sheer number of non-drivable vehicles. For around 20 minutes, he presented several aerial photographs to council members that showed certain cars parked in the same spot for several years. Others were ones he’s noticed around town since he began the position.
“This is something that is kind of rising to the top of my attention,” he said. “I am really surprised and the number of them sitting around town that aren’t being used, and these are the vehicles that are considered a nuisance.”
Junk vehicles, Fahey said, oftentimes lead to other violations.
“A lot of times they have overgrown weeds around them, debris and this attracts rodents and animals, vagrants looking for shelter, it promotes vandalism and can be attractive playgrounds for children, which poses a health and safety risks … as a community blight it becomes an aesthetic degradation,” Fahey said.
In most cases, the vehicles are parked in the open on the street, in front yards or alleys and must be screened from view to avoid a notice. In addition, he explained vehicles must be parked on pavement. Parking on gravel surfaces is allowed only in areas that were in existence prior to 2003, and vehicles cannot be parked on grass surfaces.
So far, Fahey’s efforts have eight pending cases, four closed cases, and two properties he’s been looking at have the potential to be in violation.
“At this point I am trying to keep the workload down to a workable load, and in many cases the case doesn’t go any further than a notice, and the issues were corrected right away,” he said.
With that said, Fahey expressed several times to both the council and administrative staff for the city, there will be residents with certain financial or physical limitations that will stand in the way of improving their property, and suggested a plan to help those residents.
“One of the departments goals is to create a list of individuals, service groups or private businesses, that are willing to provide assistance without charge, to perform a weekend activity such as painting, mowing, shoveling, or general cleanup chores, to assist those that may not have the financial or physical ability to clean up their property,” he said.
For more information on the property code maintenance department, or to learn more about the city’s guidelines, contact Fahey at 717-1126.
To read all of today's stories, Click here or call 642-2761 to subscribe to our e-edition or home delivery.
For the last couple of months, the new property maintenance code officer has worked on more than 70 cases in Spearfish. But to Pat Fahey it’s not just about the number of cases, it’s about educating residents so the cases will gradually diminish over time.
“First and foremost, we want to emphasize achieving voluntary compliance of the code requirements with our residents through education and information,” he said.
After taking on the city’s newest position, Fahey has created several brochures, guideline checklists and a door hanger to notify property owners, if or when, a violation of city code has occurred.
“Properties found out of compliance of the requirements will generally be addressed in the prioritized order of safety, health, and aesthetic concerns,” he said.
As of this week, there are 29 active cases, and there have been 41 cases opened and closed. After storm Atlas slammed the Black Hills, Fahey made 13 in-person contacts and left 22 door hangers notifying homeowners of the branch removal guidelines, but never considered them violations.
When presenting an update to the Spearfish City Council Monday, he expressed how important it is residents are aware of the property maintenance codes.
“Voluntary compliance, as opposed to enforced compliance, generally is more permanent, achieves greater accomplishment of our goals, and is more widely accepted by the community,” he said.
When someone calls in a complaint, they usually call city hall. Articles:
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- http://www.amesd.org/california/dumpster-rental-in-lakewood-ca/
- http://www.amesd.org/montana/dumpster-rental-in-great-falls-mt/
- http://www.amesd.org/connecticut/dumpster-rental-in-new-haven-ct/
“I’d rather talk with them face-to-face so I can get to know the property owner, and have a discussion with them about the complaint,” Fahey said. “If there is a violation, I talk about what improvements need to be made, and the timeline.”
A few weeks after the notice, he’ll double check the property and if it’s apparent that some improvements have been made, he’ll leave them alone and let them do their own thing.
“I look at each case differently and prioritize that complaint based on three sets of criteria,” Fahey said. “If there is a safety issue where someone can get injured or hurt, that goes to the top of the list.”
Address: 818 Hunterdon St,
Newark, NJ, 7112
Call: 888-215-5457
The second factor considered is whether the violation is becoming a health issue, and the third is aesthetics and beautification.
A lot of times the violations are easy to overcome. In some cases it’s unsightly weeds or overgrown landscapes, a few pieces of junk, trash, obstructions or an RV parked out front. In others, it’s the exterior of the home or building that needs work, such as a roof and foundation repairs, new paint or stain and fences that need to be maintained.
“When I get one complaint, I often find that one property owner’s violation can be the same as their neighbor’s with a similar violation,” Fahey said. “So, I speak with them too.”
But, the obstacle Fahey faces in Spearfish is the sheer number of non-drivable vehicles. For around 20 minutes, he presented several aerial photographs to council members that showed certain cars parked in the same spot for several years. Others were ones he’s noticed around town since he began the position.
“This is something that is kind of rising to the top of my attention,” he said. “I am really surprised and the number of them sitting around town that aren’t being used, and these are the vehicles that are considered a nuisance.”
Junk vehicles, Fahey said, oftentimes lead to other violations.
“A lot of times they have overgrown weeds around them, debris and this attracts rodents and animals, vagrants looking for shelter, it promotes vandalism and can be attractive playgrounds for children, which poses a health and safety risks … as a community blight it becomes an aesthetic degradation,” Fahey said.
In most cases, the vehicles are parked in the open on the street, in front yards or alleys and must be screened from view to avoid a notice. In addition, he explained vehicles must be parked on pavement. Parking on gravel surfaces is allowed only in areas that were in existence prior to 2003, and vehicles cannot be parked on grass surfaces.
So far, Fahey’s efforts have eight pending cases, four closed cases, and two properties he’s been looking at have the potential to be in violation.
“At this point I am trying to keep the workload down to a workable load, and in many cases the case doesn’t go any further than a notice, and the issues were corrected right away,” he said.
With that said, Fahey expressed several times to both the council and administrative staff for the city, there will be residents with certain financial or physical limitations that will stand in the way of improving their property, and suggested a plan to help those residents.
“One of the departments goals is to create a list of individuals, service groups or private businesses, that are willing to provide assistance without charge, to perform a weekend activity such as painting, mowing, shoveling, or general cleanup chores, to assist those that may not have the financial or physical ability to clean up their property,” he said.
For more information on the property code maintenance department, or to learn more about the city’s guidelines, contact Fahey at 717-1126.
To read all of today's stories, Click here or call 642-2761 to subscribe to our e-edition or home delivery.