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Previously:

• Lack of Trained Staff Prompts Curry County to Restructure Code Enforcement Department, Potentially Outsource Animal Control

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The Board of Commissioners dissolved the Curry County Code Enforcement Department on Wednesday, noting that it had not been staffed for some time.

The county will outsource animal control to a private contractor, according to the board report. The Curry County Sheriff’s Office will oversee the community resource officer position. And the Community Development Department will handle zoning ordinance and building code violations, according to the report.

The Board’s unanimous decision also eliminated an administrative assistant position.

Deciding to dissolve code enforcement on Wednesday came after Director of Operations Ted Fitzgerald in July said the department had been “essentially shut down” because staff lacked the proper training and authority.

On Wednesday, Commissioner Jay Trost asked if the person handling zoning ordinance and building code violations would report to the building official in the Community Development Department.

Fitzgerald said the person handling building code and zoning ordinance violations would be delegated to the building official for training and oversight.

“In the event we start running code enforcement like it should be run, then there will be revenue and that revenue needs to go toward the people who are involved, including the supervisors,” Fitzgerald told commissioners. “In the case of the building official, that person is going to be doing a lot of training. Also, the other nice thing is if things are running correctly, then the code enforcement person will be able to bring some skills to the building department itself. It’s kind of a win-win.”

In July, the Board of Commissioners asked Fitzgerald to seek proposals to outsource Animal Control to a third party.

On Wednesday, staff stated that since animal control is “planned to be outsourced to a private contractor” the code enforcement department no longer required a department manager.

At previous meetings and workshops, commissioners said they envisioned the community resource officer position to help enforce new camping regulations.

On July 5, Commissioner Brad Alcorn said he felt separating the community resource officer and the individual addressing building and planning code violations would make code enforcement as effective as possible.

“If taking animal control off their plate because we have limited resources would be cost effective, then that might be a good option,” Alcorn said in July.

At a workshop in September, Curry County commissioners discussed how best to enforce camping regulations they approved in June, right before a July 1 deadline local governments had to meet requirements set down in Oregon House Bill 3115.

Approved in 2021, HB 3115 set restrictions on how municipalities enforce anti-camping laws.

Alcorn said the code enforcement officer tasked with overseeing the camping ordinance won’t be a “gun-carrying police officer,” though they would work under the sheriff and district attorney.

“If anyone knows of a person who has life experiences that would be a really good fit for this community resource officer position, please encourage them to put in,” he said. “Please reach out to them, please let them know about this position because this is a position that could be very impactful in multiple ways.”

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