Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Pam Kennedy knew the illustrious importance of city code enforcement reached a new high recently when it was featured on an episode of "Touched By An Angel."
The Sunday night drama highlighted the plight of an enforcement officer working against a slumlord whose unsafe property led to a death.
While some of the scenes appeared exaggerated, Kennedy pointed to the episode to underscore a national trend that has seen a significant role of code enforcement officers who more and more are being sought to clean up unsafe properties and protect property values.
Kennedy's job is less sugar- coated and angelic, but given her workload, she could use some divine intervention.
The trend is overwhelming in Warsaw.
When the city created her job in 1995, Kennedy had six cases needing attention.
Since then, the number of complaints and cases has steadily grown. By the end of 1996, the number of annual cases investigated by the department was 202. By the end of 1997, the caseload had reached 333.
The department receives on average a complaint a day. But since enforcement problems are sometimes not easily resolved, the caseload experiences a snowballing effect.
Of the 216 new cases in 1997, almost half involved unsafe rental units. Another 57 involved unsafe owner-occupied homes. Most of the rest involved unsafe commercial and accessory buildings.
Before Kennedy was hired, building commissioner Gene Oliver handled all inspections. He now focuses on new construction. About a year ago, the city hired an administrative assistant to take calls and prepare paperwork.
Oliver and Kennedy said they are both working almost 60 hours a week, and their assistant, Giselle Cox, is also putting in overtime.
"If we work hard enough and long enough, we're going to get it under control," Kennedy said.
The hiring of a hearing inspector who starts today and works once a month will help alleviate some of the backload.
The national trend has taken root as buildings and homes grow older and lack proper maintenance.
"If there isn't care and concern shown in properties, crime seems to settle in the neighborhoods," Kennedy said.
The lack of enforcement is viewed by the criminal element as a sign that their activities will go unchecked, Kennedy said.
Some of the callers complaining about code violations point that out, she said.
Aside from landlords and property owners who blatantly violate city codes, Kennedy said a big portion of her job involves explaining ordinances and standards to people.
"I consider myself an educator," she said. "Even national television is starting to review exactly what we do or what we've been trying to get across to people."
Oliver's job has continued get busier as well. In one recent day, he had 14 inspections of new buildings, a level national building organizations say is too high to do an adequate job.
The number of annual permits issued has risen from 239 in 1995 to 415 in 1997.
On top of that, Oliver has had to familiarize himself with a slew of new codes. In the past eight months, he has dealt with new national electrical codes, mechanical codes and state building and fire codes.
The building department has also prepared a new publication for building codes available free of charge.
