Beware. Village officials are increasing efforts to make sure violations in property maintenance are taken care of.
According to Lake Orion Police Chief Jerry Narsh, two ordinance officers are on patrol seven days a week. One works 30 hours during the week; the other patrols 10 hours on the weekend.
The village is divided into four districts. The officers cover one a week.
‘In the past we didn’t have an effective way to track (the violations). We now have a system that tracks the history,? Narsh said.
An ordinance officer always responds to complaints that come in to the police department or to the village’s front office.
‘We encourage residents to call us and tell us about any problems,? Narsh said.
All the complaints are investigated. If a complaint is found not to be in violation of any village ordinance, no report is entered into the system.
Narsh said the first level of compliance is to talk to the violator directly or send the person a written notice of the violation. A warning is sent within five days.
‘We would like compliance within five days,? Narsh said. ‘If that doesn’t happen, a municipal civil infraction is issued. If a person fails to comply or contact us, a ticket is issued.?
The next step is to have an informal hearing before a magistrate from Rochester’s 52/3 District Court. Typically, a fine is paid.
If the violator doesn’t take care of the violation, a formal hearing is set. Usually the person is asked to take care of the violation by a certain date. If no action is taken, the village does the corrections (using DPW workers or a private contractor). The cost for the work is put on the violator’s tax bill.
This whole procedure could take three or four months to complete.
‘We’ve never lost a formal hearing on property maintenance. We have good documentation,? Narsh said. ‘We still prefer to have voluntary compliance.?
Property maintenance laws have been evolving over the years making it easier for municipalities to force compliance.
‘We now have the authority to enter property and make the corrections,? Narsh said.
The police department keeps a special section on repeat defenders. ‘They get no warning; we go right to the ticket phase.?
According to Narsh, Oakland Country has a low or no interest loan program that can help a violator make any corrections that are needed. Monies are also available from local churches.
Ordinance officer Chuck McLaughlin recently talked about one of ongoing problems on North Axford Street.
The basement on a new home was dug a year ago and then abandoned. The basement has constant standing water in it. The property is overgrown with five to six feet high weeds. Dirt covers the sidewalk.
A neighbor has complained that workers, while they on the site, pushed over his fence that separates the two properties. He said he has difficulty mowing his lawn.
McLaughlin said he’s looking for a court order this month that will give the village the authority to go on the property to take care of the problems, including capping the basement.