Medical Lake Council hires code enforcement officer

MEDICAL LAKE – For the first time, the city of Medical Lake has a code enforcement officer on the beat.

Don Mayfield, a part-time police officer, is enforcing the nuisance section of the Medical Lake Municipal Code, which encompasses 11 violations, including filthy, littered or trash-covered yards; foul or malodorous privies, sumps, cesspools, not protected from rats or flies; any unsightly building billboard or other structure or any old abandoned or partially destroyed building.

The job will last for six months and started May 5. City officials anticipate Mayfield will be busy.

“Hold off on your list,” Doug Ross, city administrator, said at Tuesday night’s City Council meeting.

Up until now, Ross has handled all code enforcement issues on a complaint basis. When he received a complaint from the public, he would mail a letter to the code violator and they would have 30 days to correct the problem.

With Mayfield in place as the code enforcement officer, he will travel from door to door, talking to people about what can be done to solve a problem. Violators will still have 30 days to correct any problems.

Mayfield will serve directly under Ross and is already driving around the city looking for possible problem areas.

“Since he patrols for the Police Department, he’s already aware of some things,” said Councilmember Jeff King.

“We’re excited to have him aboard,” Ross said.

The council also approved a fireworks stand permit submitted by J&M LLC. The stand will be at 111 N. Lefevre and will be operated by the Airway Heights Lions Club.

Councilmember Art Kulibert said the Fire Department had reviewed the application and recommended it for approval.

After the vote, Ross mentioned that after the Fourth of July, many residents complain about the hazards of fireworks and would like to put a discussion about a fireworks ban for future Fourth of July holidays on the agenda of a future meeting.

“State law says you can’t ban fireworks sooner than a year after it goes into affect,” said Cynthia McMullen, the city attorney.

“I think we should put it on the agenda,” said Councilmember Shirley Maike.

Howard Jorgenson disagreed, saying that a fireworks ban was a dead issue and he didn’t want to discuss it.

“We always say we’re going to discuss it, but we never do,” Maike said.

The council agreed and the issue will be discussed during a future meeting.

The council also announced the promotion of Corey Stevens from firefighter to fire lieutenant. Stevens has been with the Medical Lake Fire Department since 2000 and stepped down from captain to firefighter a few years ago to start his own business.