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Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009

Gulfport plans to start environmental court

Derelict property, code violation cases to be heard

GULFPORT — The city will start an environmental court next week to deal with derelict properties, tree ordinance violations, vandalism, building- and fire-code violations and other issues.

Mayor George Schloegel plans to ask the City Council next week to appoint attorney Richard J. “Dickie” Smith to hear environmental cases.

Chief of Code Enforcement Rick Ryan would serve as the point person for inspections and resident complaints that could result in environmental cases.

Schloegel said the city needs the court because aesthetic issues often receive less attention than they deserve under the current structure.

The focus in Municipal Court is on crime. Environmental issues, he said, will have a higher priority with a separate court.

Schloegel said Tuesday that court will be held in the evenings so residents can participate.

Gulfport is joining a trend toward municipal environmental courts. Hattiesburg and Biloxi operate environmental courts. Bay St. Louis is studying the possibility of creating one.

Ward 2 Councilwoman Wendy McDonald of Bay St. Louis said she proposed the court after seeing a presentation about the one in Hattiesburg.

“The current system just takes so long,” McDonald said. “

We’ve done some things that have helped speed up the process, but it is an interminable process. For a problem property, it becomes never ending.”

Hurricane Katrina accentuated the need for environmental court. Gulfport spokesman Ryan LaFontaine said the city is still dealing with abandoned vehicles and derelict properties from the storm.

Like Bay St. Louis and most other municipalities, Gulfport has a lengthy process for dealing with derelict properties. Eventually, if the owner fails to clean up the property, the city can have it cleaned up at the owner’s expense. The process involves a public hearing before the City Council.

Offenders can be dealt with more expeditiously in an environmental court.

Residents in violation of city environmental codes or laws will be notified and given a chance to correct problems before they are taken to court.

If a case proceeds to court, a judge will weigh evidence presented by both sides, then decide whether a fine, order to comply or other remedies should apply.

Schloegel said Gulfport’s court will convene late in the day so residents can attend.