Title
Lake County Nuisance Ordinance Proposed Revisions - Pfister
Body
There are two proposed changes. The first is to remove “that may be involved in the transmission of communicable disease” from 94.08 Animals and Pests. There are several pests that present a public health nuisance where an infestation occurs, but which are not definitively known to transmit communicable disease. A prime example is bedbugs, which are most certainly a public nuisance, but which have not been proven to transmit disease, though it is suspected. Other examples are fruit flies and sewer flies. This change would provide LCHD the authority to pursue correction of infestations of these pests through the administrative adjudication process, as we currently only have authority to pursue if the pest is known to spread disease.
The second proposed change is to add a new section, 94.14 Public Health and Safety, (A) Actions detrimental to the public’s health and/or safety. There are often conditions of which we are made aware that are unhealthy and/or unsafe, but over which we do not have direct authority, primarily because these conditions exist at unpermitted facilities such as health clubs or other public buildings. Additionally, conditions occur in rental properties that do not rise to the level of rendering the space uninhabitable (94.06(B)), but which do present a health or safety concern. We investigate and pursue correction of these problems, but this change would provide authority to pursue correction through the administrative adjudication process if voluntary compliance is not achieved.
Suggested Motion
To approve the proposed revisions to the Lake County Code of Ordinances, Chapter 94: Nuisances and Environment.