Above L-R) Michele Chambers, Zoning Inspector, and Clayton Eichman, Code Enforcement Officer.
By Paula Pyzik Scott
The Village of Ada has divided zoning inspection and code enforcement assignments into two jobs following the retirement of Zoning Inspector (and former Chief of Police) Michael Harnishfeger. The roles are now filled by two individuals who already work for the Village of Ada.
Michele (Brunk) Chambers is adding Zoning Inspector duties to her work as an Administrative Assistant. She has worked for the village since June of 2021.
Clayton Eichman is the Village Code Enforcement Officer. He has worked for the Ada Police Department since 2023 and was appointed as Detective in July 2024. Eichman covers code enforcement on his days off from the APD.
Chambers notes that becoming the Zoning Inspector involves learning all the Village of Ada codes herself and often teaching them to residents. Chambers and Eichman frequently encounter residents who are unfamiliar with local ordinances and with the responsibilities of home and commercial building ownership.
Village Permits
If you are building, rebuilding or doing demolition on your residential or commercial property, it’s important to make a written application with design/drawings for the permit (called a Certificate in the code of ordinances). Chambers gives the examples of “building a shed or fence, accessory building, even demolition of 1,000 square feet or more.”
General permit fees are $25.00. Some construction/addition/alteration projects have fees with a minimum charge of $50.00/$100 plus a per square footage charge.
In the case of new construction, Chambers makes three inspections to determine if setbacks, paving and final construction are all done according to specifications. There are no interior or electrical inspections.
The easiest way to find out if you are required to apply for a permit, is to call Chambers (contact details below). Information is also available on the village website HERE. The full codified ordinances of the Village of Ada are available HERE.
Code Enforcement
Notifying property owners of failure to keep a property in compliance with Village code is Eichman’s area of oversight. This ranges from landscaping maintenance to exterior building condition.
Eichman emphasizes that owners are given time to bring their property up to code. He responds to complaints from other residents and drives through the village to look for violations, including properties that are unoccupied.
Common code violation issues are deteriorated siding, gutters separating from the home and water damage. Other violations listed by Village code include unsafe structures, drainage, rodent infestation, exhaust vents, motor vehicle storage and defacement of property.
Following the grace period, fines for code violations are not more than $100/day. The Ada Code of Ordinances says, "Whoever violates this section shall be guilty of a minor misdemeanor and shall not be fined more than one hundred dollars ($100.00). Each day that the violation continues shall be considered a separate offense."
Chambers noted, “Instead of one set of eyes [on Zoning and Code Enforcement], we have two. and there are residents in the village who are willing to make reports because they want their neighborhoods to stay nice.”
CONTACT INFORMATION
Michele Chambers, Zoning Inspector
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 419-634-4045 ext. 212
Clayton Eichman, Code Enforcement Officer
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 313-744-2335
