Teams of code enforcement officers went door to door as a first step to cleaning up several DeKalb County neighborhoods on Friday.
The goal is take care of some of the county's worst eyesores in areas that have had a high number of code compliance complaints.
Landowners have complained about piles of trash in empty lots and overgrown weeds.
DeKalb code enforcement officers went door to door in a neighbor on the Lithonia city line in search of code violators.
"We've decided to start in this area, because of the concentration of the types of complaints, and the concentration of the issues on the ground," said Marcus Kellem of DeKalb County Code Enforcement.
Code enforcement officers notified people of violations on their property, they gave them a certain amount of time to fix the problem before they come back and fine them.
It's only a first step, but the county says the extraordinary measure was needed to make that first step happen.
"The officers are usually by themselves working in each community, but it becomes almost impossible to accomplish the goal. This way we have a concentrated effort, we have a group of officers together, and we can effectuate that change and as group in a one-shot deal," said Kellem.
Code enforcement officers plan on going back to that area in about a month to follow up. They will also target other areas in DeKalb with similar problems.
Friday, May 24 2013 10:14 AM EDT2013-05-24 14:14:44 GMT
A judge has sentenced Michael Parson to the maximum of 35 years in jail for the attempted murder of his wife. On Thursday, Parson was convicted of shooting his wife, Adina, eight times in 2012.
A judge has sentenced Michael Parson to the maximum of 35 years in jail for the attempted murder of his wife. On Thursday, Parson was convicted of shooting his wife, Adina, eight times outside their Sandy Springs apartment in 2011.
Friday, May 24 2013 9:52 AM EDT2013-05-24 13:52:10 GMT
The jury has found Michael Parson guilty on all eight counts in the shooting of his wife outside their Sandy Springs apartment.The woman, Adina Parson, survived after being shot eight times.
The jury has found Michael Parson guilty on all eight counts in the shooting of his wife outside their Sandy Springs apartment.The woman, Adina Parson, survived after being shot eight times.
Friday, May 24 2013 9:40 AM EDT2013-05-24 13:40:32 GMT
Families of city workers are back at Atlanta City Hall this morning for a second day of protests. They're demanding bigger pay raises for police, firefighters and other first responders.
Families of city workers are back at Atlanta City Hall this morning for a second day of protests. They're demanding bigger pay raises for police, firefighters and other first responders.
Friday, May 24 2013 9:23 AM EDT2013-05-24 13:23:38 GMT
A Newton County teenager and his mom received the gift of mobility on Thursday, thanks to some Good Samaritans.
A Newton County teenager and his mom received the gift of mobility on Thursday, thanks to some Good Samaritans. Tyler Head was injured in a high school wrestling tournament in December, and getting back and forth to therapy is a vital to his recovery.
