Institute teaches how to better protect community health, safety, welfare

Elected officials, city managers, building department staff and other government professionals working to revitalize economically depressed areas or rehabilitate older buildings in their communities will find the International Code Council 2005 Property Maintenance and Housing Institute to be a valuable educational opportunity.

Participants in the institute will learn current techniques and trends in property maintenance and housing code enforcement, and strategies for effective program implementation. The Property Maintenance and Housing Institute includes panel discussions with industry experts who will share their insight into property maintenance code administration, program challenges and strategies for success. Panelists include Dan Smits, B.S., M.C.P., C.B.O., a 28-year fire service veteran who successfully ran a building department that conducted 10,000 inspections annually and Martin Collins, J.D., Commissioner of the Milwaukee Department of Neighborhood Services and a member of the American Association of Code Enforcement.

The Property Maintenance and Housing Institute, May 19-20 in Chicago, offers housing inspectors, code officials and building department administrators an opportunity to increase knowledge, skills and abilities to protect public health, safety and welfare related to occupancy and maintenance of homes, buildings and land. Properly maintaining homes and buildings is one of the most important ways to protect the health, safety and welfare of the people living and working in a community. Well-maintained residential and commercial structures also enhance the economic vitality of a community.

In addition to education offered by code enforcement professionals, the Property Maintenance and Housing Institute allows attendees to interact, network, gain valuable insight and share experiences with their peers. Participants in the two-day institute can earn continuing education units (CEUs) and learning units (LUs).

The Property Maintenance and Housing Institute is co-sponsored by the American Association of Code Enforcement, the Illinois Association of Code Enforcement, the Code Enforcement Association of Texas, the Minnesota Association of Housing Code Officials, the Michigan Association of Housing

Officials, the Code Enforcement Officers Association of Palm Beach County, the Ohio Code Enforcement Officials Association and the Connecticut Association of Housing Code Enforcement Officials.

To register for the Property Maintenance and Housing Institute online, click here. For more information contact at 1-888-ICC-SAFE (422-7233), ext. 4322.

The International Code Council, a membership organization dedicated to building safety and fire prevention, develops the codes used to construct residential and commercial buildings, including homes and schools. Most U.S. cities, counties and states that adopt codes choose the International Codes developed by the International Code Council.