Commissioners hire new code enforcement officer to bring properties into compliance

Friday, September 30, 2011
Ken Stevenson of Charleston, Mississippi County's new nuisance ordinance compliance officer, left, looks over door hanger notices for violations with Mississippi County Sheriff Keith Moore during Thursday's County Commission meeting. Scott Welton, Staff

CHARLESTON -- Nuisance makers beware: Mississippi County has a new man on the job.

During their regular meeting Thursday, Mississippi County commissioners met with Ken Stevenson of Charleston, the county's new compliance officer for the county nuisance ordinance.

Stevenson was hired to the position in a closed session following the regular County Commission meeting Sept. 15. The Commission did not meet last week as the county clerk and his staff were at an annual conference.

"We've got problems that you need to address," said Presiding Commissioner Carlin Bennett.

Stevenson said he has door hanger violation notices, a bound copy of the county code and has arranged to share the vehicle assigned to Danny Harris, county emergency management director. Harris was the former code enforcement officer before resigning from that job.

Bennett said he doesn't see a problem with them sharing the vehicle "as long as you're both logging your miles."

Sheriff Keith Moore said the East Prairie Police Department has a ticket book for city ordinance violations that officers carry along with a book for state violations.

Moore suggested a county ticket book could be printed up with boxes to check off for county violations that most frequently come up.

He also advised Stevenson to first contact the property owner and tell them to fix the problem and then return after 15 days to write a ticket if the property remains out of compliance with the county nuisance ordinance.

"It's got to have teeth in it," Bennett said of the nuisance ordinance.

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