So-called nuisance patrols will consist of the combined forces of inspectors from the departments of public service and public health

Service Director Rick Merolla said nuisance inspectors will be able to work much more quickly than before.

"Service department inspectors will be permitted to cite properties with certain health department violations, and health inspectors will be permitted to post notices for violations that used to be covered solely by the service department," Merolla said.

Public service typically inspects for high grass and weeds, junked cars, trash, broken windows and tires. Public health looks for things such as animal waste, evidence of rodent problems or garbage. 

Mayor Plusquellic promised the action in his February State of the City address, saying then, "The things that often bring neighborhoods down quickly are the house with a junk car in front, the yard with high weeds, or loose trash, or the zoning violations that irritate responsible homeowners to no end. Our goal is to be out in front and head them off before they get to the point of irritation."

Part of this initiative, according to the mayor, will be to instruct city employees who work in Akron neighborhoods, with the exception of nurses and epidemiologists, on a regular basis to watch for nuisances and to report them. Sanitation drivers who notice potholes, police who see a house in bad condition or a road repair crew that sees a run-down house are being asked to take responsibility and make a note of or call in a complaint.

There will be four chief nuisance officers in charge of a section of the city.   Each will be accountable for the condition of their area. "This will clean up our city in a faster and more efficient way than ever before," said Mayor Plusquellic.

The city will have no increase in staffing for the initiative, according to Merolla.

He urges citizens to do their part as well by calling the city’s 3-1-1 call center to help Akron put property owners on notice that nuisance properties will not be tolerated.

The legislation goes before council for study and input. One change in policy with the nuisance patrols is that the city will now levy fines for the third and subsequent violations by property owners.

"The process of enforcement will be quicker, penalties tougher and the community cleaner and safer as a result of this," said Plusquellic.