Jefferson County, Madras extend code‑enforcement agreement through March 2026

Jefferson County commissioners and the Madras City Council voted Oct. 1 to extend an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) that formalizes shared, limited code‑enforcement services through March 31, 2026, with an effective date of Oct. 1, 2025.

City code enforcement staff described the unit’s work over the past six months, citing private and commercial property abatements, relocations for structurally unsafe dwellings and targeted efforts on unattended vehicles and trailers that block intersections and bus stops. Dwayne Ledford, city code enforcement, said staff have helped families relocate and coordinated financial assistance from landlords and property owners in two cases—one for $8,000 and another for just under $10,000.

Ledford explained the abatement process and enforcement timeline: staff typically issue a letter giving owners a 10‑day window for significant overgrowth issues and said a typical residential abatement cycle can conclude in about 30 days; unpaid abatement costs may be assessed as a lien against the property. He also said the county is researching citation authority and process models used by other Oregon jurisdictions to enable code officers to issue citations directly.

The governing bodies moved to sign the IGA during the joint meeting. The chair called for a voice vote; council and commission members signified approval and the motion carried.

The extension keeps joint enforcement in place while city and county staff continue to refine operational details and explore citation authority and other tools to reduce response time and staff burden.