ABC57 Sound Off: St. Joseph County Code Enforcement

 

ABC57 Sound Off is the place for you to be heard!

ABC57 NightTeam anchor Tim Spears listens to viewers messages on the latest news and issues. If it's a problem we can help solve or a question we can help answer, we do.

This week, ABC57 rides along with the St Joseph County Code Enforcement team to get a better idea of how viewers can get their complaints addressed.

The county is primarily focused on three new ordinances passed in April

• Abandoned vehicles
• Public nuisance
• Weed and rank vegetation

In St. Joseph County, code enforcement is "complaint driven". Meaning enforcement inspectors are not looking for violations. The county is only responding to complaints from residents. It's also less strict than the enforcement in the City of South Bend and Mishawaka.

Having already closed more than 320 violations since the program started in April, St. Joseph County has already added a third staff member to follow violations.

According to code inspector Steve Szarday, the county is also being flexible with property owners and avoiding excessive citations as long as they're making progress on a violation. 

Anyone looking for more information on the St. Joseph County Code Enforcement program can go to SJCIndiana.com/Code

Need to Sound Off? Email [email protected]