Gilliam County Court orders 30-day accelerated redemption for 403 North Lincoln Street after public hearing

A Gilliam County Court public hearing on June 3, 2026 led the court to determine that the tax-foreclosed property at 403 North Lincoln Street in Condon is suffering from waste and abandonment and to order a 30-day accelerated redemption period before the tax collector deeds the property to the county.

The hearing opened with a briefing by Deputy Tax Collector Kelly Smith, who summarized a February 19 complaint from Jennifer Putnham alleging the house had stood vacant for more than a year, had accumulating garbage and foul odors, and included a refrigerator knocked down by a December windstorm that poses a potential toxic hazard. Smith cited the county's ordinance governing redemption acceleration and ORS 312.100 as authority to hold the hearing.

Thomas Rask, an attorney representing the estate of Vern Lancaster (the recorded owner named in the briefing), told the court the property's tax liens — including state and federal liens — substantially exceed its market value and described efforts to negotiate with lienholders. Rask asked the court to initiate the county's accelerated-redemption process but to extend the statutory 30-day period to 90 days so the estate could try one last effort to persuade the state to reduce its lien and facilitate a sale. "If you complete the process, the state liens are eliminated and the county then takes the property free and clear," Rask said, explaining why the estate sought more time.

Neighbors' written statements were read into the record. The letters, submitted by Jennifer Putnham and Jennifer Hall, described continued garbage accumulation, odors, reported dog safety incidents on nearby streets, and concern that the refrigerator on the porch posed a cooling-system hazard.

Commissioners pressed the estate's representative about whether cleanup or sale was feasible. Rask said limited estate funds might permit some basic cleanup if a viable sale could be arranged but he could not guarantee a negotiated result with the state. Deputy Tax Collector Kelly Smith explained the county's foreclosure-sell process and that the first-attempt minimum bid is two-thirds of the real market value; she reported a real-market value used in the briefing of $70,490 at the time foreclosure proceedings began.

Judge Patnode noted the county ordinance contemplates a 30-day accelerated redemption period. The court then voted on the motion to determine the property is suffering waste and abandonment and to direct the tax collector to deed the property to the county after a 30-day accelerated redemption period. The motion passed; the court then approved court order number 202601 implementing the decision.

Because the court adopted the 30-day period provided in the ordinance rather than the 90-day period the estate requested, Rask acknowledged the estate could continue to pursue negotiation with the state but said he could not guarantee success. The court record shows the action was taken to address neighborhood health and safety concerns while following the county's established ordinance.

What happens next: under the adopted order the county will begin a 30-day accelerated redemption period. If the property is not redeemed within that timeframe, the tax collector will proceed with deeding the property to the county under the terms of Order No. 202601. The estate and interested buyers may still attempt to resolve liens or make offers during the redemption window.