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Board Considers Naming Sheriff as Lead Fire-code Enforcer; Staffing Concerns Raised, No Vote Recorded
Summary
Culpeper County staff proposed amending Chapter 9 of the county code to add section 9-39, naming the sheriff as lead enforcement authority for open-fire regulations. The sheriff cautioned enforcement will require personnel and investigative resources; a motion to adopt was made but the transcript does not record a vote.
County staff presented a proposed amendment to Chapter 9 (Miscellaneous Offenses and Provisions) that would add a new section—proposed 9-39—identifying the Culpeper County Sheriff or his deputies as the lead enforcement agency for the county’s fire code.
Sam, the staff presenter, said the new text would state that “the provisions of this section shall be enforced by the Culpeper County Sheriff or his deputies,” and that the sheriff may seek enforcement assistance from the state fire marshal’s office and other agencies as needed. The proposal also restructures existing code language (moving parts of 9‑1 under 9‑35) and adjusts penalty language under a reworked 9‑38; staff posted a redline and related documents on BoardDocs.
Sheriff Chilton told the board the primary limitation for enforcement is personnel and the logistics of investigating problem sites. “The biggest thing for us for enforcement measures is just personnel,” he said, adding some investigations will require search warrants and assistance from other agencies, and that the Department of Environmental Quality has been involved in a number of related cases.
During the public hearing, resident Don Haight asked whether the changes were targeted at particular habitual offenders, whether the sheriff should be expected to take on the additional duties, and how limited county resources should be prioritized among zoning, building and sheriff’s responsibilities.
After discussion, a board member (Speaker 6) moved to adopt the Chapter 9 amendments, saying recent abuses and limited county redress justified the change. The transcript records the motion and supporting remarks but does not include a recorded roll-call vote or a voice vote result on that motion in the provided segments.
What’s next: The motion to adopt was made on Nov. 6; the meeting transcript does not record the motion’s final disposition or any implementation timeline. Staff materials and proposed code language are on BoardDocs for further review.
