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Planning & Zoning asks commissioners for more enforcement staff, cites bottleneck with county attorney
Summary
Eric Mack of Flathead County Planning & Zoning proposed restoring a full‑time code compliance technician and adding a code compliance supervisor to tackle long‑running violations; commissioners pressed on enforcement delays and whether cases stall at the county attorney's office.
Flathead County Planning & Zoning staff asked the Board of Commissioners May 5 to add staff to improve code compliance and enforcement, citing backlog and multi‑year unresolved cases.
"So the idea would be making our code compliance technician full time again ... and then adding a position for code compliance supervisor," Eric Mack said, describing a plan that would increase compliance staffing to three positions. Mack said the additional supervisor would provide another public contact point and help move cases more quickly.
Commissioners raised concerns about where delays occur; several asked whether the county attorney’s office is the bottleneck. Mack said many files are sent to the attorney’s office and that adding an additional compliance position and exploring administrative remedies or fines could reduce the number of cases requiring formal prosecution. He also said planning is revising lakeshore regulations and expects enforcement changes to come from that process.
Mack said the additional staff would allow the department to "get ahead instead of just staying on top of" recurring violations and could speed cases that currently sit with attorneys.
What’s next: Planning will continue work with the county attorney’s office to identify administrative options and return with details and cost estimates for the proposed positions as part of the FY27 budget process.
