Living in the country can be heavenly — unless you’ve got problem neighbors. Then it can be pure hell.

And as much as some would like law enforcement to solve their disputes large and small, that’s simply not a reasonable expectation.

In weighing competing priorities, counties and other local governments understandably struggle with how to allocate funds. In the most clear-cut example, in a contest between hiring a sheriff’s deputy or a code officer, protecting the public against outright criminals is always likely to win.

Hermiston did step up its code enforcement efforts this summer, adding a second part-time officer to help address problem properties. The police department now oversees the program, where parks and recreation used to be in charge. That is a smart move, as the link between code violations and criminal activity are linked.

“Livability issues can have an impact on crime,” police chief Jason Edmiston said in an interview with the East Oregonian earlier this month. “A well-kept, well-lit property is less likely to be a victim of a crime.”

And it’s essential to recognize that code disputes can also blow up into crimes. Tempers flare when dogs bark all day or chase other pets. Arguments about illegally burning smelly garbage can turn into escalating threats and even assault.

Looming over all this are protections for private property rights. One person’s awful mess may be another’s cherished stockpile of old farm equipment and vehicles kept for parts. Even the most egregious violators deserve due process.

But landowners who neglect basic management functions permit smaller issues to fester and grow into neighborhood-wrecking free-for-alls. Violators themselves may be rotten jerks, or simply overwhelmed by poverty, illness or substance abuse.

The Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office dealt with the worst of this issue last year when it forcefully closed the Rodeo City Inn west of Pendleton. The motel had become a dangerous place, and the owner proved unwilling to make necessary improvements, so the county shut it down and boarded it up.

Carried to an extreme, such properties negatively affect the value of neighboring addresses. Lack of appropriate rule enforcement drags everyone down.

Beyond admonishing everyone to be better neighbors, what’s the solution?

While it will always contain some gray area, code enforcement should be addressed in black and white.

It ought to include larger fees for problem properties and shorter time periods before action is taken. Facing the prospect of liens against their property to pay for cleanup and damages, most owners will step up efforts to avoid allowing problems to get out of control.

From a broader public perspective, we all can help by letting elected and appointed officials know this is a high priority, and by supporting personnel doing their jobs. Area real estate brokers and agents should wield their considerable influence to make the point that the county’s future depends in part upon a reputation for protecting property values and quality of life. Chambers of commerce should be vigilant to the negative effects of neglected properties around businesses.

As the 21st century moves forward, our region will have to accommodate more and more residents. It’s vital that we get along. Intelligent and diligent code enforcement is a key way to ensure this result.