Lexington Code Enforcement Director Alex Olszowy says citations issued by his office have remained about the same since 2013.
Olszowy offered a review the Code Enforcement Department to members of the council’s Planning and Public Safety Committee last week. He was asked what property owners should do if they feel they are facing unfair scrutiny. “A lot of people feel targeted because it’s a particular neighborhood sore spot and every neighbor knows about it and some neighbors will not let it lay there for one extra day,” said Olszowy.
Sometimes, Olszowy said, it’s a dispute between neighbors where they just don’t get along and pick on each other. In addition to housing being in disrepair, Olszowy noted nuisance calls cover everything from tall grass to junked cars. The code enforcement director says all investigations are complaint driven.
Committee Member James Brown said his first district area sees the bulk of code enforcement complaints. “I think part of that is the older housing stock that we have, but I think it’s also because of the redevelopment that’s taken place and people do feel targeted and do feel like code enforcement has been weaponized and I think it’s our responsibility to ensure and make people feel that that is not happening,” explained Brown.
The issue remains in committee.
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