More than just aesthetics for Ceres code enforcement officer

Pursuing health and safety sometimes means having to don full protective gear

By ROGER W. HOSKINS
rhoskins@modbee.com

last updated: February 19, 2008 08:02:17 AM

CERES -- When code enforcement officer Paula Redfern drives around the city looking for violators, it is about more than detecting public nuisances and eyesores.

"Health and safety is our No. 1 priority," said Redfern while making her daily rounds earlier this month.

She issues citations for appliances left in front yards or for trash cans left out in the open.

But there is more to the law than sprucing up Ceres neighborhoods. One worst case scenario, one she was too familiar with, illustrated the importance of her job.

"One house, you could smell the cat urine two houses away with the (car) windows rolled up," she said.

Another cottage home, owned by an elderly woman, was nearly as bad, Redfern said. Not only was the cat odor bad, but bugs dropped on her from the ceiling. "She had cockroaches for wallpaper."

Redfern cataloged perils from filth: staph infections, hepatitis, tapeworms, and respiratory ailments up to and including pneumonia and hantavirus.

Because her working environment can be dangerous, Redfern said her position is equivalent to that of someone who handles hazardous materials.

It can be costly, too. "Sometimes, even bleach can't get your boots clean. That's a $150 pair ruined in an instant."

Redfern uses paper protectors to cover footwear. And sometimes code officers don full-body protective gear.

Ceres Police Chief Art de Werk outlined the code enforcement master plan as it came from the City Council just over 18 months ago. He said the council wanted a significant emphasis on improving quality of life.

"We were going to concentrate on the main thoroughfares and entries to the city -- Mitchell, Service, Hatch (roads), Whitmore (Avenue) and community parks," explained de Werk.

"Then we were to work outward from there -- (moving) inside the neighborhoods themselves. But as soon as the program got going, demand was through the roof. We're always behind ... but that means there is a lot of community pride."

There is so much to do, de Werk noted "the council could add 10 more people (to its two officers) and there would still be plenty of work."

That work includes monitoring empty homes, expediting graffiti removal, watching for illegally dumped trash as well as clearing garbage cans and even basketball hoops from public streets.

Redfern went by one house she was rechecking on her rounds. She drove by and then made a U-turn, an essential part of her routine. "I always drive by first to see what may be going on." If she thinks she needs an escort, she calls for a police officer.

This resident, a 57-year-old male former drug user, got a thumbs up as well as a parting verbal caution. A truck in the driveway had flat tires and the back yard had numerous sacks and buckets filled with empty beer bottles.

But Redfern was sympathetic. Things were much better compared with her last visit. "As long as they'll try, I'll work with them," she said.

Redfern told him she noticed the improvement in the yard. But she pointed at a pile of lumber in the dirt and said, "This is how it starts." The man nodded and promised to get it straightened out -- pronto.

As she left, she recalled her previous visit. The man cried when the city took some of his cats. The city did have compassion and left him with three.

One of the biggest ongoing concerns is empty homes. Redfern drove along a street in a newer development where four of nine homes on one side of the street are vacant. When something is wrong, such as a downed fence or broken windows, a lot of time can be spent finding a responsible party.

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