Commissioners back five-member committee to draft combined property-maintenance ordinance

County staff asked the Dawson County Board of Commissioners on July 2 to appoint a citizens advisory committee to help draft a combined community-health/property-maintenance ordinance based on draft work prepared by the County Attorney's Office.

Richard said the committee — five or seven members — would meet monthly beginning around August to provide input to staff. "We've got 13 applicants," he said, describing a cross-section of residents who have lived in the county for varying lengths of time. He said the County Attorney prepared a 2024 draft that will serve as the starting point and staff will take committee input to refine the draft before formal public hearings.

Several commissioners said they prefer a five-member committee with one representative from each district and one at-large seat. One commissioner said staff has already verified applicants either live in or own property in the district they would represent and described that verification as a requirement for appointment.

The board's discussion was limited to committee composition and process; no formal appointments were made at the July 2 work session. The board plans to make appointments and continue consideration at the July 16, 2026 voting session.