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Council briefed on code enforcement activity

By Staff | Sep 30, 2015

Bill Keeler

The Community Council of Lehigh Acres was given a briefing by code enforcement as compared to the rest of unincorporated Lee County, and 92 percent of the violations was not mowing tall grass and weeds.

Bill Keeler, of Lee County Code Enforcement, presented the report at the meeting on Sept. 21. His report covered the period from June 1 to Aug. 31.

Keeler noted that there were 2,241 lots that were mowed in Lehigh, with 1,868 lot mowings in the unincorporated area. It represents 55 percent of low mowings in Lehigh, according to the summary.

Other violations included nuisance and accumulation issues, trucks parked in residential areas, unsafe buildings, graffiti and illegal signs in the right-of way.

Keeler cited 12,330 complaints in Lehigh and unincorporated Lee. He said that 47 percent of complaints occurred in Lehigh, which accounted for 5,625, as compared to 6,705 complaints in the unincorporated area.

MEL TOADVINE Bill Keeler, of Lee County Code Enforcement, reports on recent activity at the Lehigh Community Council meeting last week.

At the time, four code enforcement officers were assigned with 72 percent self-initiated cases. For the remainder of the county, officers were working. Some 36 percent of the total staff was assigned to Lehigh.

However, Keeler said Lehigh now has seven full-time officers assigned.

The mission of code enforcement is to guarantee the public’s safety and welfare.

He noted that officers will respond to a complaint made by the public or violations they discover themselves by talking with the violators in an attempt to have the violators comply.

If there is no success in convincing violators to correct the issue, they can be cited. If the violations are not corrected, a hearing examiner can seek a lien on the property.

“They are handled like a court case,” Keeler said.

When the public reports code violations, they may do so anonymously or with their names.

“Code enforcement officers may not violate the laws of trespassing on people’s property. If someone reports a violation of a piece of property, that violation must be visible from the street,” he said.

Keeler cited nuisance and accumulation violations as having trash and debris outside the house and inoperable vehicles on the property.

He said residents of homes may have several cars on their lot, all registered with tags, and operable. The reason is that more people in the house are working and require a vehicle for work.

Reports of high grass and weeds are the most reported violations, Keeler said. Grass can be 12 inches high before officials will pay to have the grass cut on lots with homes. If the county cuts the lawn, the property owner will be billed.

There are many repeat violators in this area of code violations.

He noted that there may be empty lots that are not adjacent to current homes that code enforcement does not become involved in.

Steve Conti, a member of the council, asked about residences where businesses are housed and why are they not cited.

Keeler said an office can be kept at the house, but there can be no other business going on, such as customers coming and going, or vehicles coming and going.

Keeler noted that there are ordinances such as chickens, goats, pigs and horses being allowed on private properties.

“But the law allows pot belly pigs, bee aviaries, and pigeons on private property,” he said. “We as code enforcement officers cannot go inside a home, but we can view the outside and listen to complaints about torn screens and other issues on the outside.”

Someone asked about hurricane shutters and Keeler said they can remain on windows all year.

Anyone who believes that there is a code violation, Keeler advises that a good address be provided.

Those who wish to report violations may call 533-8895. Office hours are between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. from Monday to Friday.

You can also call for details on what is legal and what is not.

He noted that a lot of people are not aware of ordinances that only allow two yard sales at the same address per year. Those who have more than the two, are asked to voluntary comply. If not, they can be fined.

You can also visit: www.leegov.com/dcd/CodeEnf to find a list of violations, report violations and pay fines.

Council briefed on code enforcement activity

By Staff | Sep 30, 2015

Bill Keeler

The Community Council of Lehigh Acres was given a briefing by code enforcement as compared to the rest of unincorporated Lee County, and 92 percent of the violations was not mowing tall grass and weeds.

Bill Keeler, of Lee County Code Enforcement, presented the report at the meeting on Sept. 21. His report covered the period from June 1 to Aug. 31.

Keeler noted that there were 2,241 lots that were mowed in Lehigh, with 1,868 lot mowings in the unincorporated area. It represents 55 percent of low mowings in Lehigh, according to the summary.

Other violations included nuisance and accumulation issues, trucks parked in residential areas, unsafe buildings, graffiti and illegal signs in the right-of way.

Keeler cited 12,330 complaints in Lehigh and unincorporated Lee. He said that 47 percent of complaints occurred in Lehigh, which accounted for 5,625, as compared to 6,705 complaints in the unincorporated area.

MEL TOADVINE Bill Keeler, of Lee County Code Enforcement, reports on recent activity at the Lehigh Community Council meeting last week.

At the time, four code enforcement officers were assigned with 72 percent self-initiated cases. For the remainder of the county, officers were working. Some 36 percent of the total staff was assigned to Lehigh.

However, Keeler said Lehigh now has seven full-time officers assigned.

The mission of code enforcement is to guarantee the public’s safety and welfare.

He noted that officers will respond to a complaint made by the public or violations they discover themselves by talking with the violators in an attempt to have the violators comply.

If there is no success in convincing violators to correct the issue, they can be cited. If the violations are not corrected, a hearing examiner can seek a lien on the property.

“They are handled like a court case,” Keeler said.

When the public reports code violations, they may do so anonymously or with their names.

“Code enforcement officers may not violate the laws of trespassing on people’s property. If someone reports a violation of a piece of property, that violation must be visible from the street,” he said.

Keeler cited nuisance and accumulation violations as having trash and debris outside the house and inoperable vehicles on the property.

He said residents of homes may have several cars on their lot, all registered with tags, and operable. The reason is that more people in the house are working and require a vehicle for work.

Reports of high grass and weeds are the most reported violations, Keeler said. Grass can be 12 inches high before officials will pay to have the grass cut on lots with homes. If the county cuts the lawn, the property owner will be billed.

There are many repeat violators in this area of code violations.

He noted that there may be empty lots that are not adjacent to current homes that code enforcement does not become involved in.

Steve Conti, a member of the council, asked about residences where businesses are housed and why are they not cited.

Keeler said an office can be kept at the house, but there can be no other business going on, such as customers coming and going, or vehicles coming and going.

Keeler noted that there are ordinances such as chickens, goats, pigs and horses being allowed on private properties.

“But the law allows pot belly pigs, bee aviaries, and pigeons on private property,” he said. “We as code enforcement officers cannot go inside a home, but we can view the outside and listen to complaints about torn screens and other issues on the outside.”

Someone asked about hurricane shutters and Keeler said they can remain on windows all year.

Anyone who believes that there is a code violation, Keeler advises that a good address be provided.

Those who wish to report violations may call 533-8895. Office hours are between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. from Monday to Friday.

You can also call for details on what is legal and what is not.

He noted that a lot of people are not aware of ordinances that only allow two yard sales at the same address per year. Those who have more than the two, are asked to voluntary comply. If not, they can be fined.

You can also visit: www.leegov.com/dcd/CodeEnf to find a list of violations, report violations and pay fines.