NEWARK, Ohio -- Licking County will soon be taking over new building code enforcement from the city.
Lisa McCloud said she has noticed that she is selling more coffee at her downtown Newark Park Place Coffee Roasters recently.
"Our sales have been up a little bit the past month to six weeks. There's no rhyme or reason in retail," McCloud said.
As far as business is concerned, McCloud isn't alone. Licking County sales tax is on the rise.
That means the county is going to take over some of the city's work.
The City of Newark's code enforcement has been stretched so thin that the mayor was going out to inspect abandoned and vacant homes.
The code enforcement office was reduced from 22 to nine employees.
The city will continue to inspect for structural codes on old and established buildings, but new structures will be inspected by the county.
"It will be a help to the city of Newark as well as to Licking County because if Licking County doesn't take over the building code department, there will be no building code department," said Doug Smith Licking County Commissioner.
For most residents, there won't be a noticeable change, but for the city workers, it will bring some relief.
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