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Sweet Home council authorizes $21,906.49 abatement lien for 1889 Kalmia Street after neighbors testify
Summary
The council voted to place a $21,906.49 lien to recover city abatement costs at 1889 Kalmia Street after staff described a history of chronic code violations and neighbors described ongoing safety, odor and fire risks. The property owner did not attend the meeting.
The Sweet Home City Council voted to authorize a $21,906.49 abatement lien on 1889 Kalmia Street after city staff outlined a multi‑year history of code violations and nearby residents testified that conditions had returned after an earlier cleanup.
City staff said the property, owned by Leslie Huerta Fernandez, has documented chronic violations dating at least to 2020, including abandoned appliances and fixtures, open storage of household goods, a discarded vehicle, and unsafe structures. Staff said multiple site visits took place from October 2024 through March 2025, a fire occurred at the residence in March 2025 that hindered access, and a final abatement notice was mailed and posted giving the owner a July 20 deadline. When significant improvements were not observed, the city contracted an exterior abatement, and a final invoice for $21,906.49 reflecting contractor cleanup and administrative fees was mailed on Aug. 12. Staff recommended recovering those costs by recording a lien under Sweet Home Municipal Code 8.04 if the owner did not remit payment.
"These cases are never easy because they involve real people, real challenges," staff said, adding that the city’s abatement program is funded by general tax dollars and that the lien process is the mechanism to recoup those expenditures.
Neighbors described continuing problems. Kim Bowman, who lives at 1903 Kalmia Street, said the property remains a nuisance and that backyard fires and odors have made it impossible to open windows in nearby homes. "It's very toxic smelling," she said, adding that an elderly neighbor has respiratory problems. Fred Bowman, who also lives at 1903 Kalmia Street, said abandoned vehicles remain and that the house appears in disrepair. Toni Hutchinson said the fence near her bedroom window is six feet away and that the odors prevent her household from opening windows for fresh air.
Councilors asked staff whether proper notifications and documentation had been made; staff confirmed notices were sent and documentation retained. A councilor verified that the property owner was not present to comment.
On a roll call vote the clerk confirmed, "Seeing 7 ayes and no nays," and the council approved the lien to recover the abatement costs. Staff said the recorded lien is intended to be recovered when the property sells or refinances.
The council record indicates staff recommended option 2—to recover costs via lien—and that the city followed a timeline of warnings, a final notice, contracted cleanup, and subsequent billing. The owner was given the opportunity to voluntarily clean the property but did not remit payment within the 30‑day period outlined in the notices. The council did not adopt any additional penalty beyond authorizing the lien at the meeting.
Next steps: staff will record the lien on the property per the municipal code and the case file will remain available for public records requests.
