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The Illinois Association of Code Enforcement Click this Link to Read Latest Installment of:
IACE EXECUTIVE BOARD FOR 2009/2010 William Donovan President (Round Lake) Property Maintenance Observations – 1981 to 2010
I’m amazed how swiftly twenty-nine years as a Property Maintenance Inspector passed as I retire to new pursuits in December 2009. I vividly recall my first day on the job at the starting wage of $8.01 per hour. My immediate supervisor told me, “In this job, everyone you write-up is a liar. Don’t clear any case unless you personally verify the work is done, don’t take anyone’s word for it.” That was sound advice. In 1981, most Property Maintenance work was done on a complaint basis by “Building Inspectors” or Housing Inspectors served in Building and Permits Departments. Housing Inspectors were viewed as “Second Class.” I trust efforts by organizations like the American Association of Code Enforcement, Illinois Association of Code Enforcement, and other State Associations have helped change that perspective. I urge all Housing Code Compliance Officers and their departments to be active in such organizations. Over the years many Code Enforcement Departments have moved away from primarily complaint driven response to some style of systematic inspection program for their housing stock. Numerous municipalities adopted rental licensing ordinances of one sort of another. These can be positive or negative depending upon the foresight and skill of management. I’ve observed other changes in enforcement since 1981. My city of employment’s focus moved from life safety issues toward more aesthetic concerns. The simple Building Officials & Code Administrators International (BOCA) 1975 twenty-seven page “Basic Housing-Property Maintenance Code of 1975” ballooned into the unwieldy amended volume now in use. Much of the amending concerns aesthetics. Fellow veteran Code Officers from across the nation report they’ve noticed this focus transformation. Perhaps the current economic tailspin will cause municipalities to concentrate on life-safety issues. Another change since 1981 is the number of female inspectors in the workforce. In 1981, 11% of our town’s Housing Code Officers were women. Today 39% are. Technology has changed drastically since 1981. We used carbon-paper forms when I started. There was no copy machine in our office. Typewritten letters had to be taken to the “Central Copy Room” two floors below to be run through the monstrous Xerox copier there. There were no PC computers, no internet. We had to go to the Assessor’s Office to verify ownership. Our Director set up a dark room in our office to develop black & white evidence photos. It was a big deal when we obtained some Polaroid cameras that took color photos. Digital cameras hadn’t been invented yet. Further improvement of Smoke Alarms and the advent of Carbon-Monoxide detectors are technological innovations that improve people’s odds of living longer. That is, if they don’t tamper with them! Some things haven’t changed much in nearly 29 years. When you get rid of one slumlord, others rise up in their place. People still do stupid things. Try hard as we might to keep them safe, were going to lose some. After all these years I’m unable to figure out why so many people live with their garbage or their pets’ fecal matter or a horde of cockroaches. Code Officers are still “damned if they do and damned if they don’t” as they serve the public. People love code enforcement until they get your notice. Local politics is still a pain in the backside. There are many challenges ahead for our profession. Code Officers face lay-offs in this current lousy economy. Those still employed have more to do. Training budgets are getting slashed. Code organizations need to further develop on-line services. I’ve worked with many wonderful people during my career. Many are now deceased, others carry-on. Involvement with the American Association of Code Enforcement and the Illinois Association of Code Enforcement brought more great people into my life. I’ve dealt with lots of colorful characters through the years. When you serve the public that is inevitable. As I move on to new endeavors I wish to say, “May God bless you as you serve, may His grace keep you safe as you carry-on in these troubled times.”
ILLINOIS ASSOCIATION OF CODE ENFORCEMENT April 14th July 7th September 8th December 8th
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E-mail any favorite photos (as an attachment) or other comments or suggestions for the website to ballen@palatine.org. The Illinois Association of Code Enforcement is dedicated to the continuing improvement of the Code Enforcement Professional and the Code Enforcement Industry. Please see our Mission Statement. The Executive Board would like to thank you for visiting our web site. |
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