MAYVILLE – A property that has multiple campers and other temporary living shelters on it near Chautauqua Lake School District has been cited for violations.

During the Chautauqua Town Board meeting, Code Enforcement Officer Frank Watson told members of the board that violation notices have been sent to the owners of 7127 Beaujean Road, which sits near the Mayville village limits. They were sent first-class mail, registered mail and hand delivered by a county sheriff deputy.

“April 30 will be the deadline and then it will be up to the board to decide what to do next,” he said.

For nearly a year, neighbors have been complaining about the Beaujean Road property, accusing residents there of illegally burning trash, violating sewer ordinances, living in temporary shelters on the property and using illegal drugs, which the materials have been found on neighboring lands, including school property.

The property has been described as a “compound” with anywhere between 15-30 people living there. Twice fire departments have responded to blazes there in campers, one in January and another in April. The code violations were sent before the most recent fire.

After the meeting, Supervisor Don Emhardt said the letter informed the owners that they were in violation of the state Building Code.

“There were several charges placed against them,” he said.

He also said the owners live on the property.

Watson has slowly been building a case against the property owners, gathering photos and videos provided by neighbors and the Sheriff’s Office.

Emhardt has said in the past that the Sheriff’s Office and officials with the Department of Environmental Conservation have responded to numerous complaints there. After people there have been arrested, they have been released and allegedly continue to violate the law.

The next Chautauqua Town Board meeting is May 8. Officials may decide next steps if the violations aren’t corrected by then.

In unrelated business, it was announced that Watson is now the sole code officer for the town and village. Ken Shearer is no longer employed by the town, which also handles all of Mayville’s building and code permits.

Emhardt said the town board hasn’t decided yet if it will replace Shearer or function with a single code officer moving forward.

Councilman Scott Cummings said the town board is taking a “wait and see” attitude to see how the department functions with a single code officer.