Lincoln County holds first reading of abandoned-vehicle ordinance; second reading set for May 12

The Lincoln County Board of Commissioners held the first reading of a proposed Abandonment and Impoundment of Vehicle Ordinance intended to give the county clearer authority to remove old abandoned vehicles from private and public property.

County Attorney Grayson read substantive portions of the draft ordinance and said it designates the director of Community Development (or the director’s designee) as the administrator and the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office as responsible for removal and disposition of vehicles on public streets and for county-owned property. Grayson said similar provisions assign the sheriff’s office responsibility for removals on public rights-of-way and on county property.

The board suspended a full reading after the attorney summarized the key sections and treated the session as the ordinance’s first reading. Chairman and staff directed that the draft be posted to the county website for public review; the county expects to return for a second reading and a final vote at the board’s May 12, 2026 meeting at 6 p.m.

Why it matters: The ordinance would formalize county procedures for identifying, removing and disposing of abandoned or nuisance vehicles, assigning administration to Community Development and operational removals to the sheriff, and could affect private-property processes where the county has statutory authority.

What’s next: County staff will post the draft ordinance to the county website and accept comments; commissioners will consider any suggested edits before the scheduled May 12 second reading and vote.