Klamath County officials commit to engineering and enforcement plan after reports of random gunfire at Chiloquin Overlook

Fred Jackson, a meeting presenter, told the Klamath County Board of Commissioners that the Chiloquin Overlook Park has experienced random gunfire that has affected nearby residents and raised safety concerns for visitors and neighbors.

Public Works staff member Jeremy Morris and U.S. Forest Service representative Judd Lehman joined Jackson in discussing possible engineering and enforcement responses, including temporarily closing the overlook, installing physical barriers to limit vehicular access, and increasing patrol presence to deter illegal shooting. The group agreed that Morris, Lehman and Jackson would develop a plan for physical modifications and enforcement and pursue site visits to finalize details. The Forest Service offered to provide support and funding for implementation. The presenters and staff targeted fall as the timeframe for initial implementation steps.

The Board did not take a formal vote on the issue during the work session; instead commissioners directed staff and agency partners to draft the plan and return with recommendations and cost estimates. The discussion noted both infrastructure options and enforcement coordination as complementary approaches, with further meetings planned to reconcile design, funding and jurisdictional responsibilities.

The session did not record public testimony beyond the presenters’ statements. The next steps recorded on the agenda are site visits and additional meetings among Public Works, the Forest Service and local stakeholders to finalize a recommended approach for the Commissioners to consider.