Derrick Williams: The Village's Code Compliance Officer
Derrick Williams: The Village’s Code Compliance Officer
Derrick Williams brings a remarkable wealth of knowledge and experience to his position as the Village’s code compliance officer, a position he’s held since April of 2021.
He is a graduate of Hughes High School and holds an Associate’s Degree from the Ohio College of Applied Science (architectural technology) and a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Cincinnati (construction management). He has worked with some of the region’s most notable companies and organizations, including General Electric, UC and Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority. There isn’t much he hasn’t seen, and there aren’t challenges he hasn’t encountered and dealt with.
The code compliance officer is responsible for ensuring Village residents and businesses follow the rules of the Village regarding property upkeep. This can mean anything from keeping lawns mowed and clear of debris to ensuring that construction and rehab projects are done properly. This important work helps keep the Village attractive and safe and has a positive impact on quality of life and property values.
To Derrick, the work of code compliance isn’t just about identifying problems. It’s also about working with residents to fix them. And that requires building relationships.
“When I see a problem, I go out and meet that person and try to see where they are,” he said. “I want to understand why their grass isn’t being cut or why there is debris in their yard. That can’t be done through a letter or a citation. You need to have a conversation.”
That conversation is often as much about process as about fixing. “People need to understand what’s going to happen to an abandoned car on their property or how much time they have to fix a problem. They need to understand how fines work,” he said. “Then, if they don’t work with the Village to get things right, they’re telling the Village they’re OK with what happens. I’ll help as much as I can, but ultimately it’s up to them.”
Derrick can point to a long list of successes – the yards that are cleaned up and maintained, the businesses who just needed some direction, the many friendships he’s developed. “I’m not looking for recognition or kudos,” he said. “I see people need help. And I help them.”