At one point during the recent economic downturn, 16 of the 130 homes in the Meadow Park neighborhood sat empty, with nine of them abandoned or repossessed. When one of the abandoned houses was eventually vandalized, residents turned to Whitfield County Code Enforcement Officer Cathy Taylor for help.
“She met with us several times, kept us informed and, most of all, she did not let the banks brush her off,” residents Larry Oakley, Ellen Claiborne, and Judy Alderman wrote in a letter of appreciation to County Commission Chairman Mike Babb.
Those residents were especially appreciative of Ms.
Taylor’s efforts when a New Mexico mortgage company told her it couldn’t do anything about an abandoned house in Meadow Park, and she told the mortgage holder, “This house has a swimming pool and you will take care of it. And when you come, I will be there.”
The bank did come, the residents wrote, and Ms.Taylor handled the problem.
“Again, know how grateful we are for Cathy Taylor’s assistance throughout our trying ordeal,” the residents concluded in their letter.
For outstanding work on the job like that, Ms. Taylor has been named Whitfield County Employee of the Month for July.
For the past several years, Ms. Taylor has been active in the Georgia Association of Code Enforcement, serving as second vice president and chairman of the certification committee since 2006, third vice president in 2005-06, and sergeant-at-arms in 2004-05.
Among her special achievements are Georgia Association of Code Enforcement Levels 1 and 2, International Code Council Zoning Inspector, DOT Fundamentals Certification, Georgia Public Safety – Verbal Judo, and Erosion Control Inspector Levels 1A, 1B, and 2.
Ms. Taylor presented Gov. Sonny Perdue with a plaque as an honorary member of the Georgia Association of Code Enforcement. She drafted a legislative proposal for OCGA 16-10-24 presented to state representatives, and she received a recognition plaque for dedicated service to the Georgia Association of Code Enforcement.
She is a University of Georgia Certified Code Enforcement Officer and completed the University of Georgia Master Certificate Program.
To help local residents learn more about her, Ms. Taylor filled out this survey.
Name: Cathy Taylor
Job: Code enforcement officer
Time with the county: 19 years
Where I went to school: Lexington, Tenn.
My role as a county employee: To help educate the public and enforce Whitfield County’s ordinances.
What keeps my job interesting: Every day has a different challenge.
What gives me a sense of accomplishment on the job: The before and after projects.
The most important thing I’ve done on the job: Meeting with Gov. Sonny Perdue to help establish a law to protect code enforcement officers in the state of Georgia.
Where I grew up: Detroit, Mi.; Monticello, Fl.; and Lexington, Tn.
Family: Three children and two grandchildren. Daughter Kristen, son Christopher, daughter Julia, granddaughter Ariel, grandson Romeo.
After work, I enjoy: Spending time with my family and friends.
Favorite TV show: Criminal Minds
Favorite sport: Volleyball
Favorite music: Alternative Rock
Favorite Whitfield County restaurant: Marco’s Pizza
Favorite Whitfield County event: Christmas Dinner
Three people (living or dead) I’d invite to dinner: My children, my grandbabies, and Justin Timberlake.
I’m most proud of: Being a mom and MeMe
Pet peeve: People who look you in the eye and lie
If I’ve learned one thing in life, it’s: Jesus should be first in everything I do.
Who has had the most impact on my life: Jesus
Personal goals I have accomplished or would like to accomplish: Being a part of getting a law passed to protect code enforcement officers across Georgia.
If I could have been in any profession of my choosing, I would have been a: Behavioral therapist-psychotherapy
If I could have two wishes, they would be: For there to be no violence anywhere in the entire world and for there to be no child abuse of any kind anywhere ever.
You’d be surprised to learn that I: am the youngest of 10 children.
Anything else you’d like to say: Thank you to my Heavenly Father above for always keeping me safe and protecting me from harm. Also a special thank you to my boss Greg Williams for believing in me.