Residents press Josephine County commissioners to restore code enforcement as backlog and flood-insurance risks grow

Multiple residents and a former county enforcement officer urged the Josephine County Board of Commissioners on June 10 to restore the county’s code enforcement capacity, saying the department’s absence has left hundreds of unresolved complaints and may threaten flood-insurance coverage for some residents.

Deborah Lawwell, representing Friends of Country Living, told the board that Thomas Peterson has returned to the role but that “a substantial backload of complaints understandably built up” while enforcement positions were vacant. She encouraged commissioners “to provide sufficient funding to fully staff this really critical department,” noting trained former staff could be rehired to speed recovery.

The plea was echoed by Nette Chase, who said she had previously worked in county code enforcement and that when she left there were more than 400 open violation files; she said that figure now is about 886. Chase warned that the county must address riparian violations tied to stream work and dumping, saying: “If we don't deal with that as a county, then FEMA will cancel the flood insurance for our county residents.” She offered to meet with commissioners to explain enforcement obligations and historic practice.

Other speakers described local impacts they said enforcement previously handled. One Grants Pass resident said code enforcement had helped stop dairies from discharging manure into rivers in prior years; Libby Watts asked commissioners to clarify which enforcement functions belong to public health, planning, building or solid waste and whether an enforcement-administrator position requested in earlier budgets remains necessary.

Commissioner Richardson acknowledged the problem and said some functions had been moved under public health while planning and community-development staff explore a structural solution. Richardson said the county has “some of those functions in a single department” in the past but that citizens often feared overreach; he said the county is prioritizing enforcement that affects other people’s rights, such as sewage or trash dumped into waterways.

Commissioner Martin said she was pleased to have Thomas Peterson back and that the board is working on the issue but must operate within budget constraints. “We are working on that,” Martin said, adding that the board funded public-safety priorities such as the sheriff and district attorney and will need to review budget options before adding staff.

Commissioner Smith said he and fellow commissioners had heard the public’s concerns and welcomed offers of assistance, intergovernmental help and volunteer programs; he suggested exploring intergovernmental agreements with neighboring counties and improving the county website to clarify where residents should file complaints.

Several commenters proposed short-term or lower-cost options: Mark Jones urged the board to explore intergovernmental agreements to borrow code-enforcement officers from neighboring counties; Deborah Lawwell recommended re-offering employment to trained former officer Michelle Marlo as a cost-saving measure because “she's already trained.”

The board did not adopt a new staffing plan or vote on a funding change during the session. Commissioners invited residents and former staff to meet with them as planning staff develops a formal proposal and said they will consider intergovernmental assistance and other interim measures while the budget process proceeds.

The meeting adjourned at 6:06 p.m.