The Enforcement Officer is authorized, subject to constitutional restrictions on unreasonable searches and seizures, to make inspections of all residential, commercial, industrial, and all other building exteriors and premises for purposes of enforcing the provisions of this Maintenance Code.
(a) The Enforcement Officer, in enforcing provisions of this Maintenance Code, is authorized and directed to make inspections either in response to a complaint alleging the existence of a public nuisance or when the Enforcement Officer has reasonable grounds to believe a public nuisance exists. The identification of a person who makes a complaint pursuant to this Maintenance Code shall be kept confidential and shall not be subject to disclosure under Ohio R.C. 149.43.
(b) Whenever inspections are necessary by any other department of the Village, the Enforcement Officer shall make reasonable effort to arrange for the coordination of such inspections so as to minimize the number of visits by inspectors, and to confer with the other departments for the purpose of eliminating conflicting orders before any are issued. A department shall not, however, delay the issuance of any emergency orders.
(c) The Enforcement Officer or any official or employee connected with the enforcement of this Maintenance Code shall not be engaged in, or be directly or indirectly connected with, the furnishing of labor, materials or appliances for the construction, alteration or maintenance of a building, or the preparation of construction documents thereof; nor shall such officer, official, or employee engage in any work that conflicts with official duties or with the interests of any Village Department.
(d) For the purpose of making such inspections, pursuant to the Village Charter and applicable ordinances, the Enforcement Officer may enter any building, premises or real estate, including vacant land, or any appurtenance thereto in the Village of Whitehouse to perform any duty imposed upon him or her by this Maintenance Code or may apply to a judge of a court of record, pursuant to Ohio R.C. 2933.21(F), for a search warrant to conduct an inspection. Every occupant of a building, premises or real estate or any appurtenance thereto shall give the Enforcement Officer access to any part of the building, premises or real estate or any appurtenance thereto at all reasonable times for the purposes of making an inspection as necessary to comply with this Maintenance Code.
(e) Expert Opinion. The Enforcement Officer is authorized to engage such expert opinion as deemed necessary to report upon unusual technical issues that arise.
(Ord. 10-2016. Passed 12-20-16.)