Ordinance creating code enforcement board gets first reading

By TONY FYFFE

BSN Editor

LOUISA — The Louisa City Council last week tentatively approved an ordinance that would create a code enforcement board.

City Attorney Bud Adams told council members at their regular meeting Sept. 14 that he “pretty well followed” a form provided by the Kentucky League of Cities in drafting the ordinance.

He added, however, that there were a couple of issues that needed input from the council, including the code enforcement board’s membership and compensation.

“I think three members are probably best,” Adams said. “We could have a larger board, but I think three are about as many people as we can round up, and we can always enlarge it later, but that’s council’s call.”

Council members agreed that a three-member board would be best, with one member also serving as the hearing officer for citations.

Adams said the council also needed to decide whether members should be compensated for their service.

Mayor Harold Slone recommended no compensation, “and if we get down the road and need to change that, we could.”

“I feel like we can’t pay enough for it to be anything worth the money,” Slone said. “So, we’ve got to find people who want to do it for the good of the community.”

Adams said the ordinance also needed to include how often the code enforcement board would meet, with council members deciding on a bimonthly schedule.

Fines for violating the code enforcement ordinance would range from $25 for animal, weed and garbage violations to $100 for unsafe and unfit structures.

Also, during the meeting, council members set Trick or Treat in Louisa for Saturday, Oct. 30, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. to coincide with the annual Nightmare in the Square event.