Officer promoted, code enforcement discussed at Valley council
BY JOHN BRICE
THE LAFAYETTE SUN
VALLEY — There was a change in leadership for local law enforcement at the Valley City Council meeting on Monday, March 23. Valley Police Chief Stacy Shirey addressed the council to make an announcement on a new promotion for Lawrence Howell in his department.
“I would like to take a minute to recognize one of my officers, Sgt. Howell,” he said. “Four years ago Sgt. Howell took my position in the drug task force. He has been out there working really hard. About a week ago he was named commander of the drug task force so he is our new task force commander now. Congratulations on that. With that being said, because he is the commander of the division we are going to go ahead and appoint him as Lt. Howell now. We can take those sergeant stripes off.”
Later in the meeting an issue with code enforcement was discussed where Marcus Fuller, the owner of a large piece of property being developed in Valley, addressed the council regarding a disagreement he has encountered with the city.
“The reason I am here is because I really wanted to meet with the planning committee,” he said. “I tried to follow the chain of command to do it the right way, but I had to
get on the agenda early so I wouldn’t have to wait another month. My name is Marcus Fuller, I currently work as assistant superintendent of operations of Lee County Schools. I have been there for almost 12 years now. I came to get a permit for my pole barn.”
Fuller explained, with a presentation, the current development impasse between himself and the city and how it had been reached.
“[I] started building the pole barn,” he said. “[I] brought everything up, we did the plumbing, I got the septic done through the health department here and [I] got my electrical done. What I found out was that the electrical was finished and permitted and was supposed to be finally connected, apparently
we didn’t do it in the right order. It was halted. When I came to find out what was going on, I
was told that what I built wasn’t actually a pole barn.”
Planning and Development Director Reid Riley responded to Fuller with his own presentation.
“July of 2025, Mr. Fuller comes in and fills out an application for a pole barn,” he said. “When I reviewed that permit, Mr. Fuller was told that you cannot have accessory structures on your property without a house or residence. His statement back to me was, ‘Well, I need a pole barn to store equipment and building material in so I can build my home.’ So, I said ‘Ok, we will issue that permit to allow you to build your pole barn so you can have a place to store your stuff until you get your home built.’”
Riley referenced an aerial photo of Fuller’s property, that he had included in a packet provided to the council, as evidence of violations found in the development of the property.
“This is an aerial view of what he has done,” he said. “All the structures you see [have] no permits. There are 14 showers, 22 sinks and 22 toilets. [There was] no plumbing permit, the plumber came in this week to get a permit. All the work has been done, [with] no inspections. Therefore, not only has he violated building codes, he has violated our zoning ordinance. That is why power has not been turned on. I do not have a solution to correct this without having the structures removed.”
In Other Business
• Adam Creel with accounting firm Himmelwright, Huguley and Boles presented an audit report for 2025, that found the city is in strong financial shape.
• There was a resolution approved for the commercial development Project Stripe Incentive.
• A resolution for roadway improvements construction was approved.
• Resolutions were approved for annexation into the city of the properties Newmor Construction and Etherton Family Dentistry.
