The Point of Conflict

Code Enforcement is the commitment to provide safe, healthy and attractive living conditions for all of the residents of Lake Mills by ensuring the community's maintenance and integrity through the enforcement of City Codes. Code Enforcement is responsible for implementing all city ordinances.
City Code is a set of minimum standards that strive to balance the rights of the individual with the needs and rights of other citizens as determined by the City Council.
When a Code Enforcement Officer receives a complaint or notices a violation, it is investigated to determine if a violation notice, or some immediate corrective action, is needed to correct the problem. If immediate actions become necessary, it is usually because the violation involves an eminent hazard or threat to life, health or safety. When such a situation does not exist, a Notice of Violation is generally mailed to the responsible party, informing them that an alleged violation has been reported. Since voluntary compliance is a top priority, you should contact the Code Enforcement Division immediately after the receipt of a Notice of Violation so that the information can be verified. A Code Enforcement Officer will help you to understand the reasons for the notice and advise you of what options exist in order to resolve the violation. During the course of investigating a complaint, a Code Enforcement Officer may conduct an on-site inspection or coordinate one or more visits to your property. Formal legal and/or corrective actions may be required in the event that cooperative attempts to resolve a violation are exhausted.
In most instances, the City formally notifies the property owner and starts working with them to resolve the violation. Typically, after conducting an on-site inspection, the City will notify the owner that a complaint has been received alleging that certain violations of the City Code exists on his or her property. The property owner is requested to provide a response indicating that they will resolve the violation in an acceptable time frame, that the violation has been resolved, or that the property was not in violation. If the owner chooses not to work with the City to cooperatively resolve the violation, a more formal legal process will be initiated which may take an extended time to fully resolve. Unless other arrangements are made with a Code Enforcement Officer, it is requested that in nonhazardous situations you wait a minimum of 30 days after filing the complaint before checking on the its status, This will allow adequate time to investigate the matter, visit the site, contact the property owner, and attempt resolution of the violation.
Codes generally provide an appeal process for parties facing code enforcement. The notice of violation will state what code is being violated. The code is on the city’s website and information regarding the violation and appeal process will be in the code.