Columbia County Ramps Up Code Enforcement

DAYTON – In June, planning and building employees began the process of updating Columbia County’s ordinances regarding the violation of building codes and the regulation and abatement of public nuisances.

County commissioners had asked Planning Director Kim Lyonnais and his team to add “teeth” to the current rules. After a brief look around the county, Lyonnais and his department located more than 40 violations of building codes.

Problems include everything from residents running unlicensed salvage yards on their property to construction of entire – sometimes expensive and elaborate – cabins without any building licenses.

One county resident, Darlene Savage, was charged in District Court on June 12 with maintaining an unpermitted salvage or junkyard on her South Touchet Road property for several years. Deputy Prosecutor Dale Slack told The Times last week that although Savage’s case is still pending in district court, he’s encouraged that she’s been making an effort to clean up the property.

The junk, vehicles and other items on the property, which includes land on both sides of South Touchet Road, often encroaches up into the public right-of-way, making it not only difficult for vehicles to travel that part of the road but also posing a “health and safety” issue, according to Lyonnais.

A public hearing will take place on Aug. 24 at 5:30 p.m. in the Columbia County Planning and Building Department meeting room, at 114 S. 2nd Street in Dayton. Commissioners will take testimony for or against proposed amendments and ordinances regarding the regulation and abatement of public nuisances and violation of county code.

Copies of the proposed changes are available at the planning and building department.