Town of Tyrone Updates : September 14, 2022

New Date: BIG Things Are Happening At The Museum

This event was originally scheduled for last Sunday, but was postponed due to the weather forecast. It has been rescheduled to THIS Sunday, September 18th from 2pm to 4pm!

This will be a fun family event with a lot of cool stuff to see!

Join Us September 24th at 7pm for The Vintage Vixens!

We Have A Council Meeting This Week:

Council, Planning Commission, and DDA meeting agendas and minutes are available for public review online: https://tyrone-ga.municodemeetings.com/

Let's Talk About Code Enforcement...

I've been made aware of recent posts on social media regarding code enforcement here in Tyrone. Some citizens do not believe we are doing enough while others believe we are too aggressive. There are also some who seem to believe that code enforcement is something new in Tyrone. The fact is, code enforcement, while not popular, is a critical activity of any government and it has always been something that Tyrone's government has performed. 

Much of our code enforcement activity is the result of complaints that we receive from citizens rather than an aggressive approach by the Town. Yes, we do proactively look for violations, but complaints play a big role in the process. The good news is that Tyrone typically takes a "soft" approach to enforcement and begins the process with a courtesy notice. If that doesn't work, a final notice is issued giving the owner 10 days to correct the problem. Our last resort is a citation and they are rare as the aforementioned approach works more often than it doesn't. 

In some cases, a violation may persist even after a citation is issued. This is because the Town doesn't have the power to go onto private property to remove a junked car, cut tall grass, or otherwise correct violations. In rare cases, where a property presents an unreasonably high threat to public health or safety, the Town can go through a mitigation process via condemnation. 

So, what's the point of code enforcement?

Most ordinances exist to give local governments the power to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of the public and to protect property. In fact, most ordinances include the following, or similar language: "The following conditions are hereby determined to be detrimental to the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of the town and are therefore determined to be a public nuisance and are prohibited." Tyrone's code of ordinances is extremely similar to those in other cities in the State and across the country. If you're bored, check out the Municode Library. It contains the Code of Ordinances for thousands of U.S. cities and counties - including Tyrone - for comparison. 

Some codes seem arbitrary, but there is usually a good reason behind them and, as described above, they are designed to promote the health, safety, and welfare of the public. Tall grass is unsightly and can become a haven for rodents, snakes, and other pests. Parking on your lawn can kill the grass, which can eventually result in excessive erosion and runoff that may affect your neighbor's property. Storage of excess junk on one's property can also produce a haven for pests, but is also unsightly and affects the welfare of surrounding properties. These are just a few examples.

By the way, please do not be under the impression that the Town is going to cite you for missing a cut here and there. Grass has to be in excess of 12" in height before a violation of our ordinance exists. If you live in an HOA community, the standards in your community covenants are likely more strict, but we do not enforce HOA covenants.

Code enforcement is probably staff's least favorite duty, but we are bound to conduct reasonable enforcement to ensure that the Town remains clean and safe and that property values are protected.

If you have additional questions about code enforcement in Tyrone, please feel free to reach out to me. If you've received a violation notice, or receive one in the future, please reach out to us (the contact information for the appropriate person should be included in the letter) and we will do our best to work with you. 

As always, the best approach when you have a concern related to Town activity is to reach out to us directly. You can find the contact information for most of our staff members and elected officials on our website.

Regards,
Brandon Perkins, MBA, CPM, ICMA-CM
Town Manager
770-881-8340