Denison: Proposed amendment would allow code enforcement officer to issue municipal infraction citations

The City of Denison is considering an ordinance amendment to give the code enforcement officer the authority to issue a municipal infraction citation.

The position is a civilian one and does not currently have that authority under the city code.

City Manager Bradley Hanson said last week that having that authority would be a benefit to the code enforcement officer as he enforces the mowing ordinance, weed control, parking violation and similar issues.

Currently, a police officer has to be called to the address to issue the citation.

“We think it is more efficient that he (the code enforcement officer} has the authority to do that,” said Hanson.

He recommended that the ordinance amendment be on the city council’s agenda for the September 20 meeting.

Colby Ellis is the city’s code enforcement officer.

At one time the code enforcement position was under the supervision of the police chief, but the code enforcement officer did not have authority to issue municipal infraction citations.

The position is now under the supervision of the city manager.

For a period of time, beginning in July 2017, the code enforcement officer was a certified police officer. The individual who filled that position was Police Officer Douglas Melby, who had been a member of the police department since May 2015. As the code enforcement officer, he worked as a police officer as well.

The code enforcement officer became a civilian position when Melby was promoted to sergeant in July 2019.

Melby is now a deputy with the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office.

During the discussion at last Tuesday’s council meeting, Councilman John Granzen said allowing the code enforcement officer to issue a citation will save time.