Brookshire council orders code enforcement to press apartment owners to fix mold, structural and sanitation problems

BROOKSHIRE, Texas ' At its Sept. 4 regular meeting, the City Council discussed multiple resident complaints and staff inspections showing mold, damaged stairs, broken fences and other unsafe conditions at several apartment complexes in Brookshire, and directed code enforcement to pursue repairs under the 2018 International Property Maintenance Code. "I currently have mold that's coming out the vents... I pay my rent, and things are not being taken care of properly," resident Cheryl Rogers told the council during public comment.

The issue came up again during agenda Item 10, when the mayor and code enforcement staff presented a slide show of photos the city had received from residents and inspectors. Marcus, the city's code enforcement officer, said he had inspected several properties and cited multiple violations, including structural defects and trash and debris. He told the council that managers at some complexes had already corrected some items; Meadowood Apartments, he said, had nine stairs identified for immediate repair and had completed six of them.

The council asked about time frames for compliance. Marcus and other staff cited the city's adoption of the 2018 International Property Maintenance Code as the enforcement authority and said the standard time frame for an IPMC violation is 30 days; after that the city may proceed with abatement and take the matter to court. Marcus said he had inspected Heritage Apartments (1015 Kenny Street), Meadowood (off Coomie) and Brook Hollow Apartments (344 Depot Street), with ongoing follow-up inspections at each.

Council and staff emphasized the difference between public comment and staff enforcement: residents' complaints prompted inspections, and the city will pursue code violations through the process established by the adopted IPMC rather than through ad-hoc remedies. No ordinance change or formal vote was taken at the meeting; staff were directed to continue inspections and follow the IPMC timelines for compliance and abatement.

The council's discussion also noted that some owners initially would not allow staff to speak with on-site managers; the mayor said owners and managers would be put on notice to cooperate with code enforcement.

Ending: Code enforcement said it will continue follow-ups and return updates to the council; residents and property managers were warned that failure to comply with the IPMC within the stated time frame could lead to abatement actions and court citations.