By Bonnie Culverhouse

Minden’s new administrative court will soon be in session.

During Monday’s Minden City Council meeting, it was decided unanimously to appoint the city’s special attorney Neil Erwin as administrative judge and the city’s administrative assistant Ashlee Drake as docket clerk in addition to their current duties with the city.

During February’s council meeting, the court was approved. Mayor Nick Cox said he hopes the court will begin hearing cases in May.

The court is for situations where homeowners or renters stack trash – tin or metal, old cars or other unsightly matter – in their front yards. It is also geared for overgrown yards and high grass.

A Beautification Committee of “peers” – an advisory role of citizens –  would hear the complaints and recommend to the Building Official whether the case should go to administrative court.

“If you have a neighbor that keeps their property at a very poor standard that doesn’t meet our ordinances, then as a citizen you would bring it to your councilperson, who would submit it to the Building Official,” Cox explained. “Then it could be brought before the Beautification Committee and potentially be brought to administrative court.”

Cox requested each councilperson make a recommendation of a someone in their district to serve on the committee.

“If you’re having a hard time, come to the court and tell the judge what your situation is,” Cox said. “Sometimes if we get church groups or citizens that need service hours, maybe we can partner up people with help. It’s not all about fines and penalties. It’s what can we do as a city and citizens to make things more appealing.”