Residents press Adams County on code enforcement, 'A-1' zoning and SeeClickFix responsiveness

At an Adams County town hall, multiple residents described long-running neighborhood problems — expired plates, unpermitted accessory dwelling units, heavy commercial activity in A-1 (agricultural) zones and persistent outdoor floodlighting — and asked for more effective county code enforcement.

Commissioners and staff acknowledged the complaints and described both immediate steps and longer-term policy work. “We do need to be diligent, and we need you,” Commissioner Kathy Henson said, urging residents to report issues through county channels so staff can route cases correctly.

Why it matters: Several residents said they have reported problems for years without resolution; commissioners said rapid growth, limited statutory powers for counties and staffing constraints complicate enforcement.

Residents said the SeeClickFix reporting system often closes tickets without follow-up and that some elderly neighbors lack internet access to submit complaints. Commissioners replied they will gather staff contact information, ask code staff to follow up with affected residents and explore process improvements. The board noted counties have only the powers granted by the state and cannot always adopt the same local code tools cities use.

County staff and the sheriff’s office described targeted enforcement efforts for clustered problems, including letters and tows for expired vehicles. The sheriff said concentrated sweeps have removed hundreds of vehicles in focused operations and that the county deploys a community resource team to target problem areas.

Ending: Commissioners asked affected residents to meet staff present at the event, promised to share contact names and to continue discussing potential changes to county processes and development standards to address A-1 zone misuse.