Ordinance Enforcement Officers

Area 1 - Mark Hook, 734-394-5180
Area 2 - T.J. Turowski, 734-394-5211
Area 3 - Kay Longton, 734-394-5210
Area 4 - Sean Heck, 734-394-5209

(See Community Policing link on the right for area maps)

Complaints:  Canton Public Safety, 734-394-5400
Questions:    Ordinance Enforcement Unit, 734-394-5335

Winter Reminder to residents of Canton's ordinance stating that no accumulation of snow or ice can remain on any sidewalk for a period longer than 72 hours after the ice or snow has formed or fallen.  Failure to comply may result in a court appearance and upon conviction, a fine of not more than $500 and/or 90 days in jail.

Ordinance Enforcement Handout  (file size 48kb); detailing types of complaints handled by the unit.

Keep it Neat brochure  (file size 1.4mb); guidelines for maintaining a well-kept residential property.

Purpose

The Ordinance Enforcement Unit's primary responsibility is enforcing ordinances in the community.  This includes a wide variety of property standards ordinances adopted by the township board, designed to promote increased safety and quality of life through improved maintenance of property.  Ordinance enforcement officers folllow up on a wide variety of complaints, such as deteriorated structures, improper animal care, operating a business out of a residential home and signs located in the road right-of-way.

Process

When a complaint is received in Public Safety's dispatch center during normal business hours, an ordinance officer will be dispatched to the location.  The officer will investigate the complaint and determine if there is an ordinance violation.  If there is not a violation, the complaint is closed.  If a violation is observed, ordinance officers will attempt to make contact with the homeowner, business owner or person responsible, to discuss the situation.  Ordinance officers may issue a notice of violation warning if necessary.  A re-inspection of the property will occur in order to determine if compliance has been achieved.  If so, the complaint will be closed.  If compliance has not been achieved, ordinance officers may issue a misdemeanor violation for a court appearance, with a maximum of $500 fine and/or 90 days in jail.  Individuals issued violations must appear before a judge in 35th District Court to answer to the violation.  Based on the nature of the complaint, it can take anywhere from several days to several months to bring a violation into compliance.  If a case is brought to court, the time frame can be extended depending on the court docket.

Community Policing Parternship

With the inception of the Public Safety Ordinance Enforcement Unit came the concept of including each of the four ordinance officers onto a community policing team within the police department.  A community policing team is assigned to each of the four quadrants of the township.  Members of the teams are empowered to identify potential problems and resolve them before they become significant.  Ordinance officers work directly with police officers and fire inspectors on dealing with problems occurring in commercial and residential areas.  For example, an abandoned building can be a haven for crime to occur.  Police can arrest or ticket the individuals committing the crime, but it would take the assistance of the fire marshal and/or ordinance officers to follow through with the building's owner to have it brought up to code, boarded up or torn down.  By bringing all three departments together, resources are combined and efforts are not duplicated, therefore saving time and money.