Code Enforcement Officers Appreciation Week

This week is Code Enforcement Officers Appreciation Week (June 1–5, 2020), and a perfect chance to thank a group of County employees who has been on the forefront of our public response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many times they’re our eyes and ears in the community and have direct relationships with our residents better than most of us.

Code Enforcement Officers have an important, but often overlooked, role in keeping our community safe, healthy, and beautiful. Code Enforcement Officers improve the safety, health, and welfare of citizens through the enforcement of laws, codes, and ordinances dealing with building, zoning, housing, animal control, environmental, health, and life safety issues. In our County, the group is led by Chief Jeffery Bowman under the direction of Building and Development Services Department Director John Barnott. Jeff and his team represent our County with a can-do attitude that aims to help people come into compliance rather than penalize them for code infractions.

These public servants are dedicated, qualified, and highly-trained individuals who share the goals of preventing neighborhood deterioration, ensuring safety, and preserving property values through knowledge, training, and application of housing, zoning, and nuisance laws.

Officers respond to concerns and complaints and proactively seek out violations including:

• Unlicensed contractors
• Overgrown yards and property maintenance issues
• Unsafe structures and demolitions
• Abandoned vehicles
• Boats, campers, trailers, and other vehicles that are improperly parked or stored
• Home offices/businesses in residential areas
• Unpermitted signs
• Dangerous dead trees
• Noise disturbances (although you can contact Manatee County Sheriff’s Office after hours!)
• Criminal Nuisance Activities (prostitution, gang-related activities, drug-related activities) in conjunction with Manatee County’s Sheriff’s Office

Code Enforcement Officers enforce Manatee County codes, ordinances and statutes to protect consumers, property values, environmentally-sensitive lands, infrastructure and property. Code Enforcement operates in 11 zones with an officer in each one.

The role of our Code Enforcement Officers has expanded — and quickly — with the COVID-19 emergency and we couldn’t be more proud of their commitment and resilience. Prior to and through this pandemic, the team has shown their value to the community they serve and to others.

These hardworking men and women are innovative leaders in many ways. Not only have they stepped up to the recent challenges they have been faced with, but we have had inquiries from other code enforcement agencies asking how we implemented certain techniques and processes throughout this time. Manatee County’s Code Enforcement team is an elite group that other organizations around the state and country aspire to be.

During this special week recognizing their service, I would like to take a moment to thank each member of our Code Enforcement team for their determination, courage, and professionalism. I am proud of each and every one of you.

This team knows how to get the job done and we couldn’t be more grateful.

I hope you will join me in thanking them for their service!