Nuisance Abatement Team Cleans Up

6 June, 2006

Ypsilanti’s latest weapon in eliminating the city’s most persistent problem areas is the Nuisance Abatement Team (NAT). Headed by Lt. Paul DeRidder of the Police Department, it includes Fire Marshal, John Ishesco; Building Department Head, Charles Boulard; City Planner, Nathan Voght; Assistant City Attorneys Jack Barr and Jesse O’Jack as well as various building inspectors and ordinance officers. They meet every Tuesday to review complaints put forth by citizens, police, fire, or other City employees and then investigate them for their potential as a NAT focus item. To date they have been very effective in eliminating some of the city’s habitual trouble spots such as a “crack” house in the Miles Street Neighborhood, and have made great head way in dealing with the many not-up-to-code buildings of notorious landlords as well as many of the city’s vacant houses. If you have a problem spot in your neighborhood that seems under the radar try giving Lt. DeRidder a call at 483-9510 or you can email him at pderidder@cityofypsilanti.com