Rick Fulmer Quotations

We start enforcing the ordinance Monday. Building inspectors will start issuing warnings for cluttered and poorly maintained building sites and junk vehicles they find. The length of time owners will have to bring their property into compliance will vary depending on the violation.

This is especially helpful when dealing with absentee owners and it has proven to be very effective in other cities we've looked at.

A good example of that would be a derelict building that may need to be torn down. Of course, it will be the owner's choice to either repair the building or remove it.

If the property owner has complied no further action is taken. But if the problem hasn't been taken care of then there will be a visit by the enforcement official and a uniformed police officer who will issue a citation and set a court date or hearing. The court, in this case Municipal Court Judge Rusty Turner, will preside at the hearing and may levy fines or set conditions for compliance as set out in the applicable ordinance.

People won't see enforcement officers out in their yards with rulers measuring the height of a blade of grass. Our intent is to be reasonable and we're willing to work with individuals to rectify the problem, whatever it is.