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LAKEPORT >> Multiple nuisance abatement hearings were held by the Lake County Board of Supervisors this week.
The hearings regarded properties in Hidden Valley Lake, Lakeport, Glenhaven, Nice, Upper Lake and Lower Lake with varying abatement issues.
Of the six hearings, only one property owner, Joshua Baeman, made an appearance to address violations. After a brief discussion the board determined to provide him with an extension in order to bring the structure up to code.
Baeman owns a home in Lower Lake, which does not have the proper county permits.
The house was constructed by a previous owner and Baeman said he “inherited” the violations. He also told the supervisors he was unaware of the issues at the time of purchase. To the best of his knowledge, he added, all paperwork was submitted and the house was registered.
That did not turn out to be the case.
“There is no record of a building permit for the dwelling,” Lake County Code Enforcement and Community Development Director Richard Coel said. “The dwelling does not have a perimeter foundation and may not meet fire code requirements.
However, the Lake County Assessor-Recorder’s office has been evaluating improvements made to the property. Despite a series of fixes, the home does not meet the government’s legal requirments.
Additionally, a septic permit was not issued by the Lake County Environmental Health Division.
Baeman assured Coel and the supervisors that the building was safe and would meet all codes if an inspector were to come investigate.
Coel recommended a deadline of Jan. 7 to address all permitting issues. Baeman said he “doesn’t feel confident of getting all the permits within one month, especially considering the holiday season.”
The board unanimously agreed with Baeman and extended the deadline to Jan. 30.
“We don’t pull the rug out from someone if they are working on it,” Coel said. “All I care about is the owner start the process.”
The five remaining nuisance abatement hearings totaled approximately $53,000. Which accounts for 58-percent of total outstanding abatement liens this year.
According to Coel, the building and safety division of the Code Enforcement Department has collected a little more than $50,000 in fines and late permit investigation fees since July, while approximately $90,000 in outstanding abatement liens have or will be recorded this year.
Contact J. W. Burch, IV at 900-2022.
