These are tax roled charges, not municipal court fines that are not always easy to collect. We also send the owner a letter each time explaining the tax bill charge and asking them to make repairs so that we do not have to keep reinspecting. The concept is that taxpayers will pay for the initial code enforcement but the property owner will pay it after a certain point. Having been in this business for many years, I can tell you that the appropriateness of the amount of the fine and the length of time to make repairs is a function of whether you are the complainant or the property owner. Remember, we enforce this code on owner occupants as well as rental property owners.
Every case is a different story, many with tragic elements.
Not when you find out that the owner is 100 years old and that we are working with the County to get the owner help. By the way, the reroofing job now taking place at the house across the street from you may possibly be related to the fact that the sentencing hearing is coming up soon. Please do not rush to judgment. Things are not as bad as you have stated them to be regarding the penalty system for code enforcement. Maybe a way down the road we will consider it, but for now I think MHNA has more pressing needs.