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Pot growing violations lead to bigger county fines Jackson County has raised its maximum fines from $10,000 to $20,000, saying $10,000 wasn't enough to deter marijuana-related violations . (Mail Tribune / File Photo) Friday Nov 17, 2017 at 11:01 PM Nov 18, 2017 at 12:49 AM Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune @VickieAldous Jackson County is raising its maximum fine from $10,000 to $20,000 for code violations — in part because officials say owners of illegal marijuana grows are undeterred by the threat of a $10,000 fine. "A lot of people are being impacted by people who are ignoring our ordinances," said Jackson County Commissioner Rick Dyer.  Commissioners discussed the fines during a work session in October, then voted this month on whether to raise fines. Dyer and Commissioner Bob Strosser voted to increase a variety of minimum and maximum fines. Commissioner Colleen Roberts voted against the move, saying the fines impact more than marijuana growers. The increases go into effect Jan. 8. County Administrator Danny Jordan said some marijuana growers are gaming the system. They violate county codes during the growing season, but they harvest their crops before the enforcement process is complete. Neighbors who complain to the county become increasingly frustrated. "It is a problem, and it is a problem for people who have to put up with it every year," Jordan said. The county's approach to code enforcement is to try to get voluntary compliance first, which gives the illegal growers a window of time. Some growers also ask county staff for continuances on their cases, further stretching out the enforcement timeline, Jordan said. "It's a manipulation of the process," he said. Jordan said some marijuana operations are lucrative, creating an incentive to violate rules and disregard penalties. "When you're making $1 million, you don't care about the fine," he said. Strosser said marijuana grows aren't the only sites generating complaints about continuing violations. He said some property owners allow garbage, broken-down vehicles and other debris to build up on their land — an issue that frustrates neighbors and uses up the time of code enforcement workers and Jackson County Sheriff's Office deputies who field complaints. While the $20,000 fine for code violations will be new in 2018, the county has more severe penalties on its books that have never been used, said Jackson County Counsel Joel Benton. A for-profit business that violates codes could potentially be fined up to two times its profits, he said. Another option is to assess a fine that is equal to the value of the property, Benton said. Jackson County's hearings officers have never used those fine options, he said. — Reach staff reporter Vickie Aldous at 541-776-4486 or [email protected]. Follow her at www.twitter.com/VickieAldous.