Waynesville council reviews code enforcement process, social-media guidance and committee assignments

During the Jan. 5 meeting, Law Director Jeffery Forbes and Police Chief Gary Copeland briefed the council on code enforcement, social-media use by public officials and committee assignments for 2026.

Chief Copeland said the code-enforcement process begins with a letter to the resident and includes discretionary time limits to correct violations; citations may follow if no corrective action is taken. He told council the example letters included in the report are public records and said he will ask Officer Denlinger to update the report to be more user-friendly. Copeland told the council that, based on current workloads, there is not enough ongoing work to justify a full-time code-enforcement position; he estimated such a position might amount to 6–8 hours per week if created. Law Director Jeffery Forbes added that administrative steps would be needed before hiring, including updating rates and ranges and formally adding the position to village structures.

Forbes advised newer council members not to conduct village business on personal social media accounts because posts in an official capacity become public records; he recommended elected officials create separate accounts for public-office use. He reminded the council that emails are public records and cautioned against using "reply all" in ways that could constitute a quorum or violate the Sunshine Law.

Mayor Earl Isaacs moved, and Troy Lauffer seconded, approval of committee assignments for 2026; the motion passed on a 7-0 roll call. Isaacs also nominated Chris Colvin as President Pro Tempore for 2026; the nomination passed unanimously. The council then entered an executive session to consider personnel matters at 7:53 p.m.; the executive session ended at 8:18 p.m. The minutes record no public action resulting from that session.