Josephine County Board approves moving forward with solid-waste nuisance receivership

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners voted to authorize legal counsel to initiate solid-waste nuisance abatement litigation and seek a court-appointed receivership for a long-troubled absentee-owned property.

Legal Counsel Wally Hicks and public-health and solid-waste staff reported the site has been monitored since 2019 and that voluntary compliance efforts did not produce lasting corrections. Staff said occupancy and vehicle counts increased, a narrow roadway was frequently obstructed, neighboring properties experienced theft and continuous traffic, and riparian damage occurred when household cleaners and heated wastewater entered low-flow salmon habitat. The Board approved proceeding "without objection," directing staff to begin enforcement, keep neighbors informed and provide public information about the abatement effort.

Hicks explained that a receivership would authorize the county to remove occupants, secure and clean the property, and bill the property owner for abatement costs. The action follows repeated staff attempts to obtain compliance and documentation that the owner failed to secure the property.