HOUMA, LA (AP) — The Terrebonne Parish Council is considering tightening local law to fine landowners and landlords for blighted property or slums where crime is taking place.
According to The Courier of Houma’s Sean Ellis, Councilman John Navy said Monday that he wants to add terms such as infant mortality, juvenile delinquency and crime rate to the local ordinance to provide another avenue for enforcement and potential penalties to landowners. The proposed change would mirror the language in Jefferson Parish's nuisance abatement provisions.
Parish Senior Planner Chris Pulaski says that under the current nuisance abatement ordinance, a landowner is only in violation if there are building code violations or similar violations.
Council members unanimously supported the proposed changes but opted to continue discussions with the parish district attorney before introducing possible changes.
