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Kendall County delays midyear hire, directs review of code‑compliance procedures
Summary
After months of growing property violations, Kendall County commissioners debated creating a code‑compliance officer but instead directed two commissioners, staff, general counsel and the district attorney to develop a formal enforcement procedure and options for a future hire; motion passed 5–0.
Kendall County commissioners on Tuesday opted not to immediately create a new code‑compliance position midyear, choosing instead to form a review team to draft rules and budget options for enforcement of development regulations.
Commissioner Chad Chapman said the county lacks a consistent enforcement process and that the absence of a dedicated officer leaves regulations ineffective and the county exposed to legal and public‑safety risk. “Regulations that cannot be enforced are ineffective,” Chapman said, adding that a compliance officer’s role would be “to get developments into compliance” rather than to generate revenue.
The proposal prompted objections from the sheriff and other commissioners over adding a position outside the regular budget cycle. The sheriff told the court he has spent 36 years in law enforcement and cautioned that hiring midyear is a budgetary decision better handled during budget season.
Staff and general counsel described the county’s current practice — door hangers, notice‑of‑violation letters (often certified mail), and a flowchart for non‑life‑safety violations — and said citations are a last resort. County staff reported 38 active violations, including 11 development actions in the floodplain and seven repeat violators, with several cases requiring coordination with constables or the district attorney.
After lengthy exchanges about due process, legal authority and funding, the court voted to direct Commissioners Chapman and Carpenter, county staff, general counsel and, as able, the district attorney’s office to review applicable statutes, evaluate the county’s flowchart and procedures, survey peer counties’ practices and bring recommendations back to the court during the upcoming budget cycle or as a budget adjustment.
The commission framed the motion as a pause on midyear hiring while it builds a procedure and an implementation plan. The motion passed unanimously.
What happens next: staff will collaborate with the two commissioners and legal counsel to draft a recommended process, including potential job description(s), duty assignment, training requirements and options for funding. The court said it will consider those recommendations before committing to a new position.
