Trion Emphasizes Code Enforcement

By JIMMY ESPY
Staff Writer
Trion Police Chief David Gilleland is warning residents to clean up their porches and lawns or face costly tickets.
Gilleland sent a letter to The Summerville News urging Trion property owners to participate in a “spring cleaning blitz.”
Town leaders have been talking tough about enforcing proper codes since 2016 but enforcement has been scattershot.
Code enforcement officer Mark Askew and Trion police officers will be involved in an intensified enforcement effort which will start “soon,” according to Gilleland.
The chief told The News that residents in violation of code will be warned. If the problem is not addressed quickly, they will be ticketed.
“First violations start at $100 a day,” Gilleland said in his release.

“It’s right before spring and we’ll be enforcing in a couple of weeks,” said Gilleland. ‘We’ve had these ordinances for years now. It’s time to enforce them.”
Gilleland said officers will be checking porches for items like indoor furniture and washing machines. Non-running vehicles and scrap metal left on lawns will be ticketed.
Gilleland said all neighborhoods in the town will be monitored and tickets will be issued for violations.
As part of the spring, Gilleland said officers and Chattooga County Animal Control will be on the lookout for loose dogs or illegally tethered dogs.
The town council passed a tethering ordinance in April of 2018. That ordinance went into effect on June 30.
Town ordinances can be viewed online at https://www.townoftrion.net/CityOrdinances.aspx.