Commission debates RV ordinance changes, enforcement and sewer impacts

The Scofield Planning Commission spent an extended portion of its meeting debating revisions to the town's recreational-vehicle (RV) ordinance, with members split between wanting to protect the town's utilities and infrastructure and wanting to avoid forcing visitors or residents to leave.

Staff summarized earlier attempts to impose a monthly fee and said enforcement had failed elsewhere. "What we did with the adding the fee, you know, $40, that just didn't fly," a commissioner said, noting enforcement is difficult and can be challenged. Several members said prior fee programs produced few payers and enforcement burdens.

Commissioners and residents raised sewer-capacity concerns, saying some RVs had previously overloaded parts of the sewer system. "It was clogging everything up," one participant said, describing solids entering the sewer system. Staff suggested clarifying ordinance language to require both water and sewer hookups where the town system exists; commissioners debated whether fully self-contained trailers could be exempted.

Practical enforcement options were discussed: using the town's meter readings and photographs as triggers for billing, placing an impact charge on the utility bill, or rescinding the prior fee and drafting a cleaner ordinance. One commissioner proposed rescinding the $30 honor-system fee and instead checking legality with the town attorney about placing an impact charge on utility bills. "I'm gonna check with the attorney and see how that would work," a commissioner said; the transcript names the attorney as Mark Tanner.

Commissioners indicated they will continue the discussion and asked staff to research legal options for enforcement, clarify hookup language (water and sewer), and return with recommended wording and legal guidance at a future meeting. No ordinance revision was adopted at this session.