Job opening available: Mandeville code enforcer

In an effort to rid their city of litter and other eyesores, Mandeville officials are creating their first code-enforcement position.

“After talking with my constituents, it became very evident that this was a need for the city,” District Two Councilwoman Carla Buchholz said.

Buchholz promised the residents in her district she would create Mandeville’s first code-enforcement officer as part of her election platform bringing the second largest city in St. Tammany up to date with Slidell, who employs a fleet of officers, and sister city Covington that has two code-enforcement officers.

Currently, Buchholz said, Chris Brown, the city building official and floodplain administrator along with the Mandeville Police Department and other department heads is filling the job of code enforcer. Buchholz hopes to relieve the workload off Brown and the other departments by hiring a “go-to person” that specifically deals with ordinances.

The development of the position came to the councilwoman after her constituents flooded her office with a bevy of differing complaints about residents violating city ordinances. Price conceded with Buchholz’ idea, admitting code violations can be found across the city but the lack of a designated code enforcer has made it difficult to address some of the more troublesome areas.

Price cited locations like shopping center parking lots, particularly the rear service drives where litter is prevalent.

The proposed position has already been added to next year’s budget with a price tag of $47,000, that includes salary and benefits.

“We’re starting with one officer until the need arises to hire another, Buchholz said.

After meeting with code-enforcement officials from Slidell and Covington, Price and Buchholz are presently “ironing out the details” of the new job description.

“It will have to be a pretty personable person to be able to go out in public and develop a working relationship with them,” Price said.

Specific details on the job duties of the position are not yet available.