Montrose Leaders: Fulfill Your Duty and Address the Code Enforcement Crisis

Mayor David Frank, Members of the City Council, and City Manager Bill Bell,

As public servants entrusted with the well-being of Montrose, you have the fundamental duty to serve the residents who elected or appointed you. This means listening to their concerns, enforcing city codes fairly, and ensuring adequate resources for essential services. Yet, the ongoing saga of inadequate code enforcement staffing, highlighted in resident Lynn Stockton's persistent emails, reveals a troubling pattern of inaction and dismissal. It is time for you to act decisively, not as distant administrators, but as accountable leaders committed to the public good.

Lynn Stockton, a third-generation Coloradan and 10-year Montrose resident, has repeatedly sounded the alarm on this issue. In her July 14, 2025, email to a local organization, she detailed her direct conversations with City Manager Bill Bell and Police Patrol Cammander Tim Cox from the previous year. Those discussions aimed to resolve the chronic understaffing in code enforcement, where the city lacked even a single officer on payroll until mid-year. Stockton proposed alternatives and trusted Bell's assurance that the problem would be fixed for 2025. Instead, she learned from the newly hired officer in March that this individual remains the sole enforcer for the entire city, with no raise or additional support. Stockton rightly calls this situation "obscene" and "beyond stupid," given Montrose's growth.

Montrose is no longer a small town immune to the demands of expansion. With a projected population of nearly 22,000 in 2025, the city spans 18.5 square miles and faces increasing pressures from development, tourism, and everyday urban challenges. One code enforcement officer cannot possibly handle weeds, junk accumulation, snow removal, signage violations, and other nuisances across such an area. This understaffing leads to delayed responses, inconsistent enforcement, and a perception of favoritism, as Stockton recounts from her own successful fight against the "old boy system" years ago. In that case, she won a court-ordered cleanup that cost the city thousands in resources due to poor oversight. How many similar oversights occur now because of insufficient personnel?

Your responses, or lack thereof, exacerbate the frustration. On July 23, 2025, Stockton emailed Mayor Frank directly, referencing a prior letter and requesting a face-to-face meeting to discuss code enforcement and public perception. She invoked the Citizen Interactive Forum, which she helped establish under former Mayor Barbara Bynum, noting the council's stated appreciation for resident outreach. Yet, Frank's reply on July 28 came only after multiple follow-ups, including phone calls. In it, he deferred responsibility, stating that code enforcement followed policies, that the council does not handle hiring or staffing, and that management has the issue "in control." This brush-off ignores the core complaint: the system itself is broken if it relies on a single officer.

As public servants, your job is not to deflect but to act. Mayor Frank, you lead the council in setting priorities and budgets that directly influence staffing decisions. City Council members, you approve the frameworks under which departments operate, including the police department's code compliance division. City Manager Bell, you oversee daily operations and hiring, as evidenced by your prior commitments to Stockton. Serving the public means addressing systemic flaws, not hiding behind procedural excuses. Transparency demands more than lip service in forums; it requires tangible changes, like increasing the code enforcement team to at least two or three officers to match the city's size and needs.

This inaction fosters apathy among residents, as Stockton notes, and erodes trust in local government. Recent examples elsewhere in western Colorado, such as enforcement concerns in neighboring counties, underscore the risks of neglect. In Montrose, code violations can snowball into larger problems: blighted properties deter investment, safety hazards endanger families, and uneven enforcement breeds resentment. Stockton's experience winning a case against a well-known citizen shows that enforcement works when pursued, but it should not require individual battles. Your duty is to prevent such struggles by building a robust system.

Moreover, the city's own resources hint at the problem. Job postings for code compliance officers suggest ongoing recruitment efforts, yet Stockton's information indicates persistent shortfalls. If the salary of around $52,000 annually is insufficient to attract and retain staff, adjust it. If workload overwhelms one person, reallocate budgets from less critical areas. Montrose's 2025 infrastructure projects, totaling over $9 million, demonstrate your capacity to invest when motivated. Why not prioritize code enforcement, a frontline service that directly impacts daily life?

Public servants must embody accountability. Stockton's call for a council recall, while challenging, reflects deep disillusionment. Avoid forcing residents to such extremes by acting now. Hire additional officers, provide training and raises as needed, and establish regular public updates on enforcement metrics. Schedule the face-to-face meeting Stockton requested to rebuild dialogue. These steps are not optional; they are your obligation to serve.

Montrose deserves better. As a growing community, it needs leaders who enforce codes equitably and respond to citizens with respect. Mayor Frank, City Council, and Manager Bell: step up, fulfill your roles, and resolve this crisis before it defines your legacies. The public is watching, and apathy will not shield you from accountability.

Michael J Badagliacco, “MJB”

Michael is a United States Air Force Veteran, father of five and grandfather of three, passionate about
this country and the Constitution.  Editor-in-Chief, Colorado DOGE Report.