Recognizing those who keep our community beautiful and safe during Code Enforcement Officers Week
By Manatee County Code Enforcement Supervisor Tom Wooten
Code Enforcement exists to protect and improve the health, safety, welfare and quality of life of our residents and visitors. Our goal is to build partnerships that help create pride in the neighborhoods and communities that make up Manatee County.
Under Chief Jeff Bowman, our team of 20 includes 14 Code Enforcement Officers, three supervisors and three administrative professionals. Each and every person on our team has a great work ethic and attitude, and they enjoy making a difference each day.
“It’s meaningful to me to put my uniform on every day, to be one of the people out here helping the community stay safe, and working with an incredibly awesome team!”
— Officer Heather Sonntag
Our Code Enforcement Officers work long hours each day, diligently resolving disputes, issues and violations. They patrol on bikes and boats, fly drones to assess damage, tow inoperable vehicles, and manage the County’s Red Light Camera program. They respond to complaints about unlicensed contractors, overgrown lawns, unsafe structures and dangerous dead trees. Our officers issue citations, attend court and special magistrate hearings, and handle licensing and registrations for everything from pain management clinics to ice cream trucks.
Covering approximately 720 square miles of unincorporated Manatee County and serving a population that is diverse and growing every day, our Code Enforcement Officers have an incredible amount of responsibilities. One of the most important elements of code enforcement is how we conduct ourselves, controlling how we act and react in all situations. Having principles and providing excellent customer service is very important to the integrity of our team.
Our officers are constantly in the community, creating relationships and increasing their personal contact with as many individuals and groups as possible. They regularly attend community, neighborhood and civic association meetings to educate the public about current laws and ordinances.
In addition to enforcing county codes, ordinances and statutes, Code Enforcement Officers play a number of other significant roles. They spend time visiting homeless camps, providing education about how to get assistance and helping to get the areas cleaned up. In the event of an evacuation for a storm, officers assist with the homeless and special needs individuals. After a storm, they play a large role in recovery and assessing the damage within the county.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, our officers stepped up their efforts even more out in the field, enforcing ever-changing rules and regulations. And for the better part of this year, they spent long hours out at Manatee County’s vaccination sites, making sure operations ran smoothly.
And while this week is about recognizing our officers, I’d be remiss not to mention our administrative staff, who answer hundreds of phone calls and conduct hundreds of lien searches each month, in addition to their many other duties.
My most heartfelt thank you to everyone on Manatee County’s Code Enforcement team for your dedication to what can often be a very difficult job. Our team is like a family and we all work hard. Our officers are willing to take on any task asked of them, and they will work together to get that task accomplished. I do not think I would ever find a better group of men and women to work with.
