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Lassen County approves liens and penalties for multiple nuisance properties; one fine reduced after owner cleanup
Summary
The Board of Supervisors adopted resolutions to recover administrative penalties and record liens for six properties found in public‑nuisance violations under Lassen County Code chapter 1.18. For one site owned by the Jackson Family Trust, the board reduced the fine to $1,500 after the owner self‑abated the property.
The Lassen County Board of Supervisors on June 9 approved a series of resolutions ordering liens and administrative penalties against multiple properties found to be public nuisances under county code.
The board received enforcing‑officer reports for six parcels with hearing‑officer decisions dated Oct. 27, 2025, each initially assessed at $17,500 in administrative penalties plus accrued interest. Matt Schwarz, the county building official, summarized the first case involving a Ravendale parcel owned by Steven Norby and recommended the board receive the report, conduct the hearing and adopt a resolution to record a lien and recover the assessed penalty.
Most hearings drew no public opposition and the board moved to adopt the resolutions ordering recordation of liens. At the Jackson Family Trust property in Meline (parcel 019‑290‑014), county staff reported the owner contacted the Planning and Building Department saying they had not received an abatement notice; when county staff visited later the property had been self‑abated. Owner representative Buddy Delma Young described the cleanup: “We camped out there for a whole week … we rented a trailer,” and said the family removed trash and debris and produced receipts for disposal costs.
Supervisors discussed county costs for prior enforcement and abatement — staff estimated roughly $1,500 in man‑hours and equipment — and several supervisors told the owner they were inclined to show leniency because the property was cleaned up. The board modified the penalty for the Jackson Family Trust property to $1,500 and adopted the resolution to record a lien (roll call: Scanley yes; Neely no; Alba yes; Ingram yes; Bridges yes).
Other penalty hearings covered properties owned by Julia and Miguel Morales (parcel 047‑090‑036), Nelson Dormal (parcel 031‑150‑009), Mr. Leidesma (parcel 019‑220‑23), Pedro Castro John (parcel 047‑100‑061) and Steven Norby (parcel 047‑090‑037). The hearing officer had previously determined public nuisances existed and ordered penalties; the board adopted staff recommendations to record liens and recover the administrative penalties as presented.
The board heard staff questions about how interest and daily fines are calculated and directed staff to clarify accounting details where spreadsheets or attachments did not match reported totals.
The board’s actions formalize county recovery of enforcement costs and place liens on properties that remain out of compliance; the county recorded the respective resolutions and instructed staff to follow up on unanswered procedural questions, including limits on daily penalty accruals and interest accounting.
What’s next: County staff will record the liens and return with any required clarifications on interest accrual and administrative‑fee calculations.
