Substandard housing, fire hazards and rusty cars beware: There’s
a new code enforcement officer in town, and he’s ready to clean up
the mess that’s been piling up since his predecessor left office in
January.
Hollister – Substandard housing, fire hazards and rusty cars beware: There’s a new code enforcement officer in town, and he’s ready to clean up the mess that’s been piling up since his predecessor left office in January.
Mike Chambless took over the position of Code Enforcement Officer on Nov. 15, filling an office that had been vacant since January, according to Hollister Redevelopment Agency Director Bill Avera. After laying off the previous code enforcement officer, Tim Burns, in January because of budget cuts, the city got enough code complaints that it decided the position was still necessary, said City Manager Clint Quilter.
Burns had already left for a similar position in Visalia, so Hollister began searching for a new code enforcement officer.
“It was very important to reinstate this position because we get a huge number of complaints regarding code violations,” Quilter said.
Code violations can range from anything from motor homes on the front lawn of a residence, to garage conversions without a permit, to unsafe living conditions, Chambless said. All examples of the types of complaints that were piling up during the time period between code enforcement officers, he said.
Chambless received training last week from Burns, who came up from Visalia to help him settle into the position. So far, Chambless said, the job has been going well, but he has a lot on his plate.
“There’s a huge backlog of calls, and I’m wading my way through those,” Chambless said.
In fact, there are about 200 cases still open from before Burns even left office, Avera said.
“The most difficult thing for him (Chambless) is going to be going in and dealing with the fact that there hasn’t been anyone on this for the past six or seven months,” he said.
Because of the large number of cases still open and coming in every day, Chambless will be focusing primarily on “life safety” issues, according to Avera. Calls for code violations like unsafe living conditions will take precedence over an old refrigerator on someone’s front lawn, he explained.
“I can’t tell you how many health and safety issues we have that haven’t been addressed. So if the violations aren’t causing a real health or safety violation, we won’t be attacking those right away,” Avera said.
Chambless, who currently lives in Hollister, has worked as a San Jose city park ranger since 1995, and still does on the weekends. He also recently worked for the City of Salinas in the Parks and Recreation department.
Anyone wishing to report a code violation should call 636-4360.
Jessica Quandt covers politics for the Free Lance. Reach her at 831-637-5566 ext. 330 or at [email protected].
