Clatsop County hearings officer holds record open after staff seeks fines for code violations at Westport Tunnel Road property

Rebecca Dorman, the hearings officer presiding over a Clatsop County code-enforcement hearing on June 16, said she would take the record and issue a written decision after considering evidence and argument in a case involving the estate of the late Scott A. Quas and unnamed occupants of property on Westport Tunnel Road.

The county presented evidence it said shows ongoing unpermitted RV occupation, accumulation of solid waste and an auto-wrecking/inoperable-vehicle condition spanning multiple tax lots. County staff recommended civil penalties of $500 per violation and requested continuing fines of $500 per day per violation if the violations are not abated within 30 days, with a $20,000 cap per violation. "A civil penalty of $500 ... and then a continuing fine of $500 per day per violation up to a total of $20,000 per violation," Miss Mendoza, the county presenter, told the hearings officer.

Why it matters: County staff said the property poses public-health and floodplain risks, including an instance of untreated sewage observed discharging from an RV. Staff also presented photos and incident reports dating from August 2024 through May 2026 and said local residents have complained about illegal burning and dumping in the neighborhood.

The record presented by county staff included a sheriff's office incident report, multiple photo summaries documenting RV occupation and debris piles, GIS points to locate violations on tax lots 301, 600 and 602, and correspondence with Oregon Water Resources indicating a water right is required to draw water from the creek on or adjacent to the property. County staff said they made 14 site visits between August 2024 and June 9, 2026 and documented eight instances of RV occupation, eight instances of solid-waste accumulation and seven instances of inoperable vehicles.

Ownership and responsibility: Staff said the county mailed notices of violation and attempted certified delivery to Ashley Quas, identified in the record as the daughter and heir of the late property owner Scott Quas. Staff summarized emails from Ashley Quas stating she paid taxes to keep the property out of foreclosure but had visited the site only in correspondence and indicated she did not want to take further responsibility; she asked that future correspondence be addressed to the estate. County staff also said occupants on the property have been uncooperative during site visits.

Procedure and next steps: The hearings officer reviewed relevant code provisions and confirmed that if a responsible party is not personally present, the hearings officer may consider only a written statement from that party. The hearings officer held the record open for a limited purpose — to receive a more detailed penalty recommendation from county staff — and set a deadline of June 23 for that submission. She said she aims to issue a written decision to the county by Friday, June 26, 2026.

What was not decided: No final determination or penalties were issued at the hearing. The hearings officer said she would not issue an on-the-spot decision and would write findings based on the admitted evidence and any limited additional submission from staff.

Direct quotes and safety note: The county described a photo that showed a sign on the property reading "I am not above murder," which staff said contributed to safety concerns observed during field visits. "I am an independent and impartial decision maker," Dorman said at the hearing when introducing herself and explaining her role.

The hearings officer also discussed enforcement options following a decision, including the county's ability to record liens and pursue the heir for responsibility if violations are upheld; staff said abatement of ongoing violations is constrained when occupants are uncooperative.

The record will remain open only for the limited purpose of accepting the penalty recommendation from county staff; the hearings officer will issue a written decision after reviewing that submission and the record.