OPD, H.O.M.E. Team Up For Code Cleanup
A crew of House of Mercy volunteers, and Olney police officers spent last Thursday morning hauling away debris from a home on West Payne Street, in a renewed code enforcement push that first offers residents a helping hand.
The cleanup effort was organized by Olney Police Officer Hagen Beck and Code Enforcement and Animal Control Officer Hollie Hawkins, with support from Police Chief Bryan Barrett and volunteers from House of Mercy.
By the end of the morning, workers had filled a large dumpster with debris that had accumulated behind the home in the 500 block of West Payne Street after a shed fire. Volunteers also separated scrap metal that could be recycled to help offset some of the homeowner’s expenses.
Chief Barrett said the homeowner recently returned to Olney after being away to find part of his property damaged by fire and cluttered with debris.
“We wrangled up some volunteers ... to give him the ability to succeed versus just keep giving him tickets or warning letters,” Chief Barrett said.
Chief Barrett said officers are identifying properties that have fallen out of compliance, particularly those with accumulated debris, overgrown vegetation or structures in disrepair. While the city has legal tools available to compel compliance, he said officers prefer to help residents solve problems before enforcement becomes necessary.
According to Officer Hawkins, code enforcement cases typically begin with a door hanger and warning letter. Property owners generally have 10 days to address debris and accumulation issues and 30 days to address substandard structures before citations are considered.
The chief estimated that the city currently has roughly 50 properties with code compliance issues. While some cases may ultimately require court action, the OPD’s goal is to work with residents whenever possible. “If they want to contact us, we will try,” he said. “Communication and a little time spent and a little effort on our part goes a long way.”
Volunteers interested in helping with future cleanup projects can contact the Olney Police Department. Chief Barrett said the department is particularly interested in hearing from people willing to donate time, equipment or services, including dump trailers, skid steers, tractors and forklifts.