WEIRTON – The City of Weirton’s Inspections Department will be taking a more proactive approach to handling property maintenance issues, beginning at the end of this week.

While many of the property code issues in the past were handled through a complaint-driven system, a more systematic approach now will be used, which will include property inspectors being assigned to patrol certain areas of the city, with those patrols set to take place every Thursday and Friday.

Code Official Nick Stewart said the hope is that if residents see Inspections employees driving through their neighborhoods, surveying properties and potentially issuing citations, it will encourage them to address any issues on their own properties.

Reports from those patrols will then be turned in to the Inspections Department, typically on Mondays.

“We’ll have the address, what the issue was, and what time they were there,” Stewart said.

Stewart explained the early stages of the patrol inspections will focus on high grass, trash, debris and issues with inoperable, unregistered, or improperly licensed vehicles. Other issues, such as physical violations on structures, will be added to the system at a later time.

The Inspections Department will continue to accept complaints as part of the process, as well, Stewart noted.

With property violations, citations will be issued to a property owner or tenant if they have failed to address a violation after being given an opportunity to do so within 72 hours, or if the property owner or tenant is a repeat offender.

For vehicle issues where the resident is in violation of the city’s parking, storage, or property ordinances, citations can be issued and the vehicle also can be towed.

“We’re giving them five days, then we’ll take them to court,” Stewart said.

City Manager Mike Adams noted, since the announcement was made Wednesday, the city has received numerous responses from residents.

“People are calling already,” he said, indicating many were unhappy with the decision.

The approach is in a pilot phase at the moment, running through November, and then will be evaluated for its effectiveness and efficiency, with adjustments made if necessary.

(Howell can be contacted at chowell@weirtondailytimes.com)