PRINEVILLE The Crook County Building Department earlier this week withdrew a citation it issued to an employee of Outreach Northwest for operating an unlicensed ”boot camp” on his property.

Keith Belz a part-time employee for the Christian organization whose third request to build a youth camp off Mill Creek Road is before the planning commission was cited July 6 for operating an unpermitted camp on his property, county records show. The citation was issued after the building department received two complaints from neighbors that activity at 15850 NE Allen Creek Road violated the county ordinance requiring a permit to operate a recreation camp on private property. The citation was withdrawn Aug. 6 by a compliance officer, Randy Davis, who said Belz was no longer in violation of county law and there was insufficient evidence to prosecute.

Official complaints filed with the county by Sam and Michelle Smith allege Belz had a cook tent, four to five other large tents, four portable toilets, an amplified sound system and numerous campers, trailers and other vehicles on his property. The camp was set up July 23 and taken down July 30, said the Smiths, who submitted photos with the complaints.

There was also a sign posted at the entrance to Belz’s property that read ”YMIA Boot Camp,” according to the statements of seven witnesses.

Larry Syme, the president of Outreach Northwest, said Thursday that Belz is a part-time employee of his organization and that his group held a training session on Belz’s property for 23 members of Youth Mission In Action, a program for young missionaries who visit rural churches in the Northwest.

”We call it a boot camp because it’s not fun and games time,” said Syme. ”We don’t want to build a camp there.”

Sam Smith said he was concerned, however, that county officials did not vigorously pursue the complaint while Outreach Northwest has an application pending before the Crook County Planning Commission to build a permanent youth camp on 193 acres near Steins Pillar, a unique rock formation in the Ochoco National Forest.

”We want to make sure that the law is followed very explicitly,” said Smith.

Outreach Northwest has sought approval for the camp since 1998. The agency’s efforts included a successful appeal to the Oregon Legislature to have state land use laws changed to allow youth camps in forest zones.

The proposed camp has been opposed by some residents who say it will hurt the environment, increase traffic, decrease their property values, and be a fire hazard.

Crook County Building Department head Bill Clemens, who oversees county compliance issues, said the citation was withdrawn because the offense had been remedied. He said the decision was ”absolutely not” connected with Outreach Northwest or its pending application.

”We’re trying to seek compliance,” Clemens said. ”If you have junk in your yard, we don’t want to fine you, we want you to get the mess cleaned up.”

Smith, however, questioned the building department’s response time after the camp was reported. He filed the initial complaint June 26; his wife filed the second June 28. The compliance investigator did not visit the site until July 2, two days after Smith said the camp was taken down.

Clemens said a compliance offer responded at that time because the complaints were not a priority.

Outreach Northwest has been accused by opponents of operating an unpermitted camp at its Mill Creek site, according to documents filed with the planning commission. One of those documents, a report filed by Dan Van Vactor and Lori Kliewer, attorneys representing two residents opposed to the Mill Creek camp, contains photos of multiple permanent buildings on the site, as well as a camper, rafts, horse trailers and a sign reading ”Stein Pillar Camp.”

Syme said there were groups who stayed on the property for varying lengths of time, including a family reunion, volunteers helping to clear brush, and youth participating in an ”adventure camp,” but none were charged a fee and no county codes were violated.

He said camp opponents were disseminating misinformation in an attempt to discredit Outreach Northwest.

”Anytime someone pulls a trailer on our property they accuse us of starting a camp,” said Syme. ”We’re trying to help kids. That’s the bottom line.”