Story - The Meade County Messenger


Vol. 114, No. 38	September 19, 2007

Plea given magistrates to hire county code enforcement officer

By LARRY SEE JR.
Messenger Staff

Planning and Zoning Commission co-chairman, Alan Flaherty pulled every trick out of his arsenal Sept. 11 when he addressed the county Fiscal Court, regarding the code enforcement officer’s position.

He displayed a picture of his grandchildren; he had a large amount of cases which hadn’t been completed and others which were in the courts and he stressed the fact residents wanted to live in a county they could be proud of.

And magistrates greeted his commentary with a “thank you,” and a statement the matter would be dealt with during a special called meeting Sept. 17. The matter was the only agenda item. Due to press deadlines, the outcome of that meeting will be covered in the Sept. 26 issues of the Messenger.

“The county needs a code enforcement officer to enforce the ordinances we already have in place,” Flaherty said, holding a picture aloft of his six grandchildren.

“I want you to live in a county you can be proud of,” Flaherty continued. He said when the officer was in place previously, the county was making progress.

“Things were starting to get cleaned up and then it stopped,” Flaherty said. “Since then, nothing has been done.”

Flaherty asked elected officials to work with members of the Planning and Zoning Committee and appoint a code enforcement officer.

“It is an injustice to the Meade County citizens to move back instead of progressing to the future,” he said. The incumbent, Hank Schaffner, currently has no marks against him, Flaherty said, urging magistrates to appoint him permanently to the position.

During previous meetings, magistrates have admitted they needed to have a code enforcement officer, but have said Schaffner wouldn’t be the candidate they would appoint. At the meetings, no reason was given for their decision.

“He is a 26-year experienced police officer and the county is lucky to have a person of his calibre working for the pittance of a salary he is being paid,” Flaherty said.

During his presentation, Flaherty alluded to the fact Planning and Zoning and the Fiscal Court hadn’t established a meeting to discuss the issue further.

“Right now we can’t do anything, our hands are tied,” Flaherty said.

“I challenge each of you to talk with the Planning and Zoning board about the issues,” he urged. “The Planning and Zoning board has tried to do this out in the open. It is not about today, it is about the future. Their future and the future of Meade County.”

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