(A) There shall be made available to the Code Enforcement Officers and Sheriff's Department of this county an ordinance summons which complies with the requirements of S.C. Code § 56-7-80, as interpreted by the South Carolina Supreme Court and/or the South Carolina Court of Appeals. The form of the Ordinance Summons shall be substantially similar to the form attached to this Code of Ordinances, with such modifications as may be recommended from time to time by the County Attorney in order to bring the form of the Ordinance Summons into compliance with legal requirements.
(B) The County Administrator shall be responsible for having the summons book printed, issuing blank summons books, and keeping a record of the summons forms assigned to an individual.
(C) Any Code Enforcement officer, Sheriff or Sheriff’s deputy issuing an ordinance summons shall be responsible for forwarding the copy of the summons labeled Court Copy to the appropriate judicial office within 48 hours of issuing the summons, or on the next business day of the judicial office, if that day is more than 48 hours after the issuance of the summons. It shall also be the issuing officer's responsibility to keep the copy of the summons labeled Officer Copy until the appointed hearing time. After all action concerning the summons has been concluded, the issuing officer shall turn the Officer Copy of the summons in to the County Administrator’s office within 48 hours or on the next business day of that office, if that day is more than 48 hours after action on the summons is concluded.
(D) The County Administrator shall be responsible for keeping the summons forms which have been turned in by Code Enforcement and other officers in a manner which will allow for an annual audit of the summons forms, as required by S.C. Code 56-7-80(C) and 4-9-150, S.C. Code of Laws, 1976, as amended.
(E) The County Administrator shall provide for the training of all Code Enforcement officers.
(F) The County Administrator shall provide for criminal records and background checks of all Code Enforcement officers prior to their commissioning, and the payment for such records checks out of a contingency account or from an account established for that purpose. To the extent not addressed by County ordinance, the County Administrator shall administratively establish appropriate criteria for persons under his or her direction and control to serve as Code Enforcement officers, and the County Administrator shall be empowered to relieve a person of such authority if, in his or her judgment, such action is warranted.
(G) County Council hereby delegates to the County Administrator the power, authority and duty to administer oaths to and to commission all Code Enforcement officers as are approved by or appointed by it. Such commissions shall be evidenced by the issuance of a badge, commission card and/or such other emblems of authority as the County Administrator deems appropriate, together with an Ordinance Summons book.
(H) The Clerk to Council shall keep a record of all such commissions issued by the County Administrator, and the duration of such commissions and other pertinent records relating thereto.
(Ord. 136, passed 10-14-1993; Am. Ord. 05-16-07, passed 6-6-2007)