LAKE COUNTY >> There continues to be miscommunications as to the nature and scope of the preliminary injunction recently issued by a federal court and the effect of that injunction on Measure N, according to Community Development Director Richard Coel.
Although a federal judge in San Francisco recently granted a preliminary injunction as to non-emergency summary abatements action under Measure N, joint efforts between the Lake County Community Development Department and the Sheriff”s Narcotics Task Force to abate unauthorized marijuana cultivation have continued.
The Community Development Department has primarily focused its abatement attention on neighborhood grows, Coel stated.
As a result of Measure N, which went into effect on July 11 more than 2,500 marijuana plants have been abated from 80 residential sites within neighborhoods. The average plant count is approximately 32 in the residential neighborhood grows that have been abated this summer, Coel stated. Additionally, the Sheriff”s Narcotic Task Force has eradicated approximately 194,000 marijuana plants to date this year on rural properties.
Under the non-summary abatement clause in Measure N, the Community Development Department responds to anonymous complaints by posting a “Notice to Abate Unlawful Marijuana Cultivation” at the grow site. The resident of the property has five business days to comply with voluntary abatement. If there is no voluntary compliance, the Community Development Department will secure an abatement warrant for the property, and the The Lake County Sheriff”s Office will then carry out the abatement.
Neighbors and residents can place anonymous complaints about illegal marijuana grows in their neighborhood by contacting the Lake County Community Development department at 263-2382 or by using the online complaint form at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Code_Enforcement.htm.
