At the May 8 City Council Meeting, Alan C. Wayland was appointed as the judge and Harris R. Hughey as the associate judge for North Richland Hills Municipal Court of Record Division No. 2, which is our new Code Compliance Court. The Compliance Court was created to help in resolving chronic code violations in a more timely manner.
A majority of city code violations, such as overgrown yards, junk vehicles, and structures in disrepair are resolved voluntarily by the property owner or addressed with help from volunteer programs such as the Neighborhood Initiative. However, additional processes are needed to help achieve the City’s goal of resolving chronic code violations in a more timely manner. Under the city’s new code compliance process, individuals with persistent code violations will be assigned a case manager who will ensure they understand the city’s ordinances, required compliance expectations and time frame for resolving violations on their property. The case manager may also provide information about assistance programs if needed.
If a violation is not resolved in the specified time, a Compliance Court hearing will be scheduled. The judge will have the ability to issue orders to clean or abate the violations, not just issue fines. This new process will help ensure properties in violation gain compliance expeditiously so our neighborhoods are alleviated of unsightly, hazardous and sometimes dangerous conditions. Code Compliance Officers are distributing information about the new Compliance Court to those property owners with ongoing violations. Questions can be directed to the Compliance Court Case Manager at 817-427-6711.