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Hazelwood is First City in Metro Area To Team With Information Technologies
Hazelwood is First City in Metro Area To Team With Information Technologies
Provides Code Enforcement Module
The City of Hazelwood is the first municipality in the St. Louis area to partner with Information Technologies, Inc., in developing a code enforcement module that can be integrated with the City’s other public safety software applications to help ensure code compliance and department productivity. This initiative is part of the City’s overall efforts to reduce bureaucracy, save taxpayer money and become more “green-friendly” through creating a paperless office environment.
“Our situation is unique in that code enforcement is handled through the public works department instead of the police department,” said Pat McSheehy, code administrator, City of Hazelwood. “In most municipalities, it’s done differently with code enforcement being a part of the police department. Information Technologies understood our department’s need to be a stand-alone unit while still having the capability of sharing information with the police department and vice versa. Information we receive from the police about suspected criminal activity or vicious animals at certain street addresses helps us protect the safety of our employees as well.”
The code enforcement software used by Hazelwood offers these features:
• Manages property by address and type of structure, including history, occupants, owners, floor plans and photos
• Manages permit applications for building and occupancy purposes
• Manages inspections and re-inspections
• Manages daily scheduling for each inspector
• Is configurable to meet the needs of Hazelwood and other agencies
The key functionality of Hazelwood’s code enforcement software is giving inspectors the ability to complete their work out in the field. According to Glen Robinson, Hazelwood’s IT system administrator, “Our code enforcement inspectors can access ‘real time’ information on any project using wireless mobile technology. They don’t have to go back to City Hall and do research because all the data is at their fingertips. Plus, they can issue inspections and citations on the spot with their tablet computers and printers, or email them. All the paper forms they would normally use to fill out are now electronic, making the process completely automated.”
Hazelwood Police Chief Carl Wolf was the one who envisioned the use of this computer software in order to create a paperless office environment and reduce the layers of city government. “This code enforcement module empowers our inspectors to take immediate action on-site if they see a violation. It also helps us gather a comprehensive database on all street addresses from a historical perspective so we can pinpoint where the trouble spots are in our community and closely monitor any possible criminal activity,” said Wolf.
