LAKE COUNTY – After two hearings in November regarding Code Enforcement, the Board of Supervisors is forming a committee to look more closely at the department's operations, an effort that Supervisor Ed Robey says is both important and timely.
The board hosted hearings at its Nov. 6 and Nov. 20 meetings, as Lake County News has reported.
With a few exceptions, most of the people speaking at the meetings sharply criticized Code Enforcement, alleging harassment, intimidation and inconsistency in enforcement.
Robey had placed the Code Enforcement discussion on the Nov. 6 agenda.
“I had run into a couple of unusual situations,” he told Lake County News.
The Huck family from Gifford Springs Road, who spoke at both meetings, had approached Robey about their concerns. Danielle Huck told Lake County News that a complaint was made over the summer about her son's pygmy goats, which make their home on the family's half-acre.
The morning of the Nov. 20 discussion, a county employee appeared at the Huck home saying he was sent to look at an unpermitted driveway. The Hucks believe that the man was sent by Code Enforcement in retaliation for speaking up. The driveway, by the way, was built at the same time as their home, more than 30 years ago.
Robey said he thought the timing of the driveway incident was “interesting.”
In addition, the issue of carports came up in late October, and Robey said the board was interested in having a larger decision about Code Enforcement issues, including operation and priorities.
Board reacts at hearing
Board Chair Jeff Smith stated at the Nov. 20 meeting that the board wants to “have a Code Enforcement that works well and works for all of us.”
The board directed Code Enforcement to be aggressive, especially in redevelopment areas, said Smith. “We want to see the county cleaned up. We want it to be done correctly”
The county doesn't want innocent people hurt, Smith said.
Supervisor Denise Rushing suggested that the board needed to set priorities for Code Enforcement. “I think the main question we have is what's right for our community.”
Rather than focusing on enforcement, Rushing suggested they may want to focus on education and compliance.
“I think that's where Voris is trying to take the department,” Rushing said, referring to Code Enforcement Manager Voris Brumfield.
There needs to be consequences for when Code Enforcement employees cross the line, said Rushing.
In addition, Rushing said there should be more of a shift to environmental enforcement. The board, she said, needs to assess Code Enforcement's funding levels.
Other concerns for Rushing related to a need for a statement of rights that Code Enforcement gives to property owners when coming onto their land.
Supervisor Anthony Farrington echoed Smith's comments about the board's decision for aggressive enforcement in recent years.
Cleaning up the community is going to touch lives, he said. His own grandmother had to deal with Code Enforcement issues. “I've lived it. I've experienced it. No one is above it.”
Farrington said he has faith in the department's staff. “Let's make this a better program,” he said, suggesting a more balanced approach with flexibility in application of the law.
Supervisor Rob Brown said he's also dealt with Code Enforcement because of a property he inherited on Bottle Rock Road. That has given him perspective on both sides of the issue, he added.
“While property owners have rights, they also have responsibilities,” he said.
Distinctions need to be made between meth labs and pygmy goats, he said. The effort needs to continue to stop people from moving to the county and bringing with them a lot of trash.
Brown said he believes it's time to review Code Enforcement's duties. “It's bee a good discussion here but i think we really need to look at prioritization.”
Robey and Rushing agreed with Brown's comments. Rushing suggested that the most egregious code violations, which affect the health of the county's creeks, lakes and citizens, should take precedence, followed by illegal structures.
Protecting the scenic corridor – which Rushing also called the “economic corridor” -- also should be a priority, she added.
Smith asked audience members to call him directly with the problems they encounter with Code Enforcement.
Community Development Director Rick Coel, who oversees Code Enforcement, also pointed out that a complaint process exists for citizens having issues with county staff. He said it's important to use that process, because managers need complaints in writing in order to deal with employee-related issues.
The fifth year of a five-year program
Robey said he'd heard stories about Code Enforcement similar to those presented at the Nov. 20 meeting, “so I can't really say it surprised me.”
The board is being presented with a complicated set of problems when responding to citizen complaints about Code Enforcement, Robey said, with the issues not centering on any one thing or any one person.
A committee has been formed to look at Code Enforcement more closely, said Robey, but it hasn't met yet. Its board representatives include him and Brown; Robey said he wants to see Coel and Brumfield also take part.
“We may contact some of the people who testified to get more information,” he said, adding that he wants to have a plan of action for how to move forward in place soon.
Reacting to citizen complaints about harassment from officers, Robey said, “To me there needs to be some clear guidelines. You don't trespass one people's property, you don't retaliate if people make a complaint against you.”
Robey added, however, that he doesn't want to pre-judge Code Enforcement. “I want to make sure I gather all the facts and find out what's going on.”
While there appear to be legitimate complaints, Robey said he's also concerned that there are many complaints about Code Enforcement that are groundless. “We have to be careful that some of these folks are telling the whole story.”
He added, “Once we do that we'll have a handle on what's really going on.”
Once the committee comes up with some recommendations – which could include new priorities and code upgrades – Robey said they'll take them to the board.
Robey said the time is right to look more closely at Code Enforcement.
“The Board of Supervisors started this very aggressive Code Enforcement program five years ago and it was designed to be a five-year program, and we are in the fifth year,” he said. “So, it's time we look at this program and see how it's worked.”
It's yet to be determined how well Code Enforcement has worked overall, said Robey. “My personal opinion is that it has done a lot of what it was supposed to do.”
Robey said the Code Enforcement discussion is giving the county a chance to look closely at the issues, “and that's what we really need to do.”
County residents, he added, should be interested in the outcome.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
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