Pickens County to shift code enforcement functions to sheriff's office after marshal resigns

Bill informed the board that Marshal Jody Weaver has resigned and that county code enforcement will be reorganized. Under the plan, dedicated Pickens County Sheriff's Office personnel will work from a county office space as part of a joint enforcement arrangement, and a civilian enforcement office with a new chief enforcement officer will handle routine code issues.

"Code enforcement is now a joint commitment between the Pickens County Sheriff's Office and the Pickens County Board of Commissioners," Bill said, describing the internal coordination and weekly case-review meetings that include public works, animal control and other departments. He said sheriff's deputies will handle the law-enforcement elements while civilian staff will pursue administrative enforcement under amended county code provisions.

Staff outlined a set of proposed legislative changes expected in July: repeal of Article 5 of Chapter 32 (the marshal's office provisions) and targeted amendments across multiple chapters that contain enforcement language (Chapters 1, 14, 6, 18, 28, 31, 54 and 67). Because some changes affect zoning references, staff said advertised public hearings will be required for those amendments.

The board received the briefing but did not vote. Staff said the proposed ordinance repeals and amendments will be advertised and brought back for formal consideration in accordance with public-hearing requirements.

Next steps: Legal and administrative edits will be drafted for the July agenda; staff will advertise required zoning-related amendments and return the proposed language for board action.