City Council to Create Code Enforcement Position

After a lengthy discussion about neighborhood maintenance and police workload, the Medicine Lodge City Council voted Monday to move forward with a contract code enforcement position aimed at addressing a backlog of property maintenance violations throughout the city.

City Administrator Brian Withrow told council members the position is one of several priorities included in preliminary 2027 budget discussions and would allow the city to more consistently enforce property maintenance codes without diverting police officers from law enforcement duties.

“When I first came here, I was hopeful that we could do a lot with code enforcement,” Withrow said. “But I was here a few months, then all of a sudden, we got a phone call one day, and on the other end of the line was this company called Google.”

Withrow said economic development opportunities and other city priorities have required significant staff time, leaving code enforcement efforts largely reactive rather than proactive.

Under the proposal, the city will develop a contract position responsible for identifying code violations, documenting conditions, gathering photographs and preparing cases for enforcement. Depending on the contractor’s qualifications, police officers may continue serving citations, while the contractor would handle much of the investigative and administrative work.

Officials said the goal is to create a consistent process for addressing complaints involving overgrown properties, nuisance conditions and other code violations that have accumulated over time.

“This is a problem in every city in America,” Withrow said. “The issue here is perseverance – having consistency.”

Medicine Lodge police officers currently address code complaints as time allows, but calls for service understandably take priority. Council members discussed whether the position should be filled by a retired law enforcement officer, a civilian contractor or eventually a commissioned code enforcement officer with authority to issue citations.

Council members also discussed how the position would function within the city’s existing enforcement process. While a contractor could document violations, gather evidence and prepare case files, police officers may still be required to issue citations depending on the individual’s certification. Officials also noted the contractor could be called to testify in municipal court regarding documented violations.

As the process stands today, much of the administrative work falls to city staff. That includes sending notification letters to property owners, coordinating photographs of violations, tracking compliance deadlines and determining when follow-up inspections are needed. Officials said those responsibilities are currently shared among existing employees, making it difficult to consistently address a growing backlog while balancing other day-to-day responsibilities.

Several council members expressed support for moving forward with a temporary position, saying a dedicated contractor would allow the city to address existing violations while evaluating the long-term need for a permanent code enforcement program. Discussion also included employment classifications, contract terms and ensuring the position remained flexible as the city’s needs evolve.

Following additional discussion regarding employment requirements and legal considerations, the council approved a motion authorizing city administration to develop a 90-day contract for a temporary code enforcement position. The contract will return to the council for review before the position is filled.