Public Health explores working more closely with MP planning and zoning

The board of health is exploring ways Public Health and the City of Mt. Pleasant's planning and zoning department can work together for the health and safety of Henry County residents.

Working with the City of Mt. Pleasant is a starting place for the board of health, who hopes building a relationship with one city can spread to other cities in the county, board of health president Buzz Bezoni said during a meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 30.

'I think we have something in common,” said Jack Swarm, Mt. Pleasant building and zoning administrator. 'What do building codes have to do with health? Plumbing systems are a part of the building code. I deal with lead paint. I deal with ventilation. I deal with carbon monoxide. There's a lot of things I do that cross paths with health.”

Swarm explained that building and zoning tries to preserve the general quality of life for residents in a community and retain property values.

Recently, Swarm dealt with a building 'full of cats and bedbugs and fleas.” The neighbors were complaining about the smell coming from the property and people were being bitten by bugs. Swarm's job as planning and zoning administrator was to obtain a warrant to go into the property to enforce sanitary provisions of the building code.

'In cases like that, the ordinance allows me to issue no-occupancy orders, so the property is safe, sanitary and people who occupy the building and neighbors aren't adversely affected,” Swarm said, adding he has codes that don't allow for pest infestations.

Public Health director Shelley Van Dorin said it is important to know that the city has authority in these types of situations that might first raise red flags with Public Health.

'If it's dirty, messy, gross or bad for people in any way, there's probably codes I have for it,” Swarm said.

Bruce Hudson, director of RUSS and county environmental specialist, said partnering with Swarm is important for the city in emergency disaster response situations. 'If there's a tornado, where does he go? I think it's important (Swarm) is here and working with Public Health,” he said.