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Myrtle Beach City Council approved a new "Quality of Life" Court during Tuesday's meeting

The Myrtle Beach City Council approved a new “Quality of Life” Court during Tuesday’s meeting. The goal is to hold such a court twice a month to address property maintenance, code enforcement and other nuisance issues which affect the quality of life for residents of the city. Here’s a list of violations which will be handled through the new court:

* Nuisances affecting public health
* Nuisances offending public decency, peace and order
* Nuisances affecting public welfare and safety
* Nuisances affecting public economy
* Abandoned vehicles
* Illegal dumping
* Noise complaints
* Grass, weeds, unkempt property
* Signage violations
* Zoning violations

Examples are shown in the attached photos. Property owners or violators will receive a court summons from a Police Officer or Code Enforcement Officer. The person will then appear before the court to address the issue at hand.

Many of these cases now follow a “rule to show cause” path which involves a hearing before City Council. Currently, the first notice of violation to a final resolution by Council may take six months. Having a Quality of Life Court will speed up the process.

The goal is to abate or address the nuisance more quickly, so that derelict buildings, unkempt properties and other nuisances are quickly resolved. Charleston has used such a court since 2002.