New division enforces WL city codes

WEST LAFAYETTE - The city of West Lafayette hopes a new division of the police department will make the quality of life better throughout the community.

The city is stepping into areas where more college students now live in order to crack down on code violations, like trash and lawn care.

Even though old habits die hard, Mayor John Dennis said the city hopes those who are forced to dish out the green will make some changes.

Despite the rain, Dennis took a walk through the New Chauncey neighborhood with city leaders and the new Neighborhood Resource Team. The seven member group will begin issuing code violations for things like grass that's more than ten inches high and overgrown trash.

"A specific problem that creates a specific extra cost to the city. The trash cans are obviously turned over. Animals have been at them. There's open trash hanging out. There's things that are going to absorb the rain and the moisture and make it heavy when we take it to the land fill," said Mayor Dennis.

Rick Walker will supervise the team of code enforcers. He said they've already responded to more than 100 calls. But it's not all about making violators pay, Walker said they plan to teach.

"It's a new program getting buy-in from neighborhood associations, from our folks from the city and that's what we hope to do. Inform, educate and work with," said Walker, Code Enforcement Officer.

Jill Suitor, who lives in the area, said paying up may be the only way to erase the clear distinction between who rents and who owns. But she said college students shouldn't get all of the blame.

"Landlords who are hands on make sure they have students who are going to be respectful. They don't put students in houses in residential neighborhoods whom they think are going to be disruptive, disrespectful," said Suitor.

The Neighborhood Resource Team can be reached at the West Lafayette Police Department at 765-775-5200.