Lake County board approves liens to recover abatement costs for three properties

The Lake County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to approve special-assessment liens to recover abatement costs for three properties addressed under a CalRecycle illegal-disposal grant.

Maria Turner, director of community development, presented the item and turned the floor over to the department’s deputy administrator and code enforcement manager, who reviewed photographs, drone footage and contractor reports of the work. Staff said the county used Cook Construction and a contractor listed in the files as "3 60" junk hauling (subcontracted in part to Case Excavating) and recommended recording liens and entering the amounts on the assessment roll. Staff told the board that CalRecycle will be placed in the first-lien position to recover abatement costs reimbursed by the grant, and that the county’s administrative time will be recorded as a second lien component.

Staff initially described recommended lien amounts of $57,864.41 for 11850 Dry Creek Road in Middletown and split the Lakeshore parcel total roughly one-third/two-thirds across the two Lakeport parcels. During the action, the board approved a motion ordering liens in the following amounts: $57,864.41 for 11850 Dry Creek Road (Middletown); $22,980.45 for 4258 Lake Shore Drive (Lakeport); and $49,490.22 for 4270 Lake Shore Drive (Lakeport). The motion directed staff to record the liens with the Lake County Recorder and to deliver them to the county auditor for entry on the assessment roll as special assessments. The motion passed by voice vote, recorded as 4-0 in favor.

The presentation and subsequent board discussion focused on the scope of cleanup at a former quicksilver mine on Dry Creek. Christopher Collin, a county code enforcement officer, said the county removed debris and material from the lower portion of the parcel and from a trailer site but did not undertake remediation of the upper mine area because it contained heavy mining equipment and contaminated mine tailings; the county documented those conditions and expects federal and state agencies (including the Bureau of Land Management and the California Department of Conservation's Division of Mine Reclamation) to pursue remediation of the upper site.

Supervisor Owen and other board members pressed staff on environmental risk and ownership. Staff said the recorded title lists Wall Street Mining Corporation (care of James Kenyon) and that family members have claimed control of portions of the parcel but probate and title questions remain; the county said it acts on the recorded title and has attempted outreach, including posting notices at the property and mailing to the address on file with the county assessor.

Dave Kindoff, speaking as counsel for property owner Steven (Steve) Radislaw, told the board he believes co-owner Victoria Radislaw was not properly notified and raised multiple concerns about the contractor invoice used to calculate the assessment. "The invoice itself doesn't indicate that this cleanup was actually for 4258 and/or 4270 Lakeshore Boulevard," Kindoff said, adding that the agenda packet contained only lump-sum entries (approximately $14,001 and $54,042.50) with the word "estimated" and insufficient breakdown of hours, material removed or per-unit costs. Kindoff questioned whether the same metal removal had been charged twice by separate contractors and whether metal recycling had been pursued to offset costs.

Staff responded that the figures are not duplicated and said roughly 1,000,000 pounds of metal were removed from the Dry Creek site. The deputy administrator said the Lakeshore work involved subcontracting and that the county will redesign the quote/invoice process to require more-detailed scopes and line-item invoices through OpenGov in coming months.

Angela Amaral, speaking during public comment, urged the county to require more-detailed contractor invoices, saying this issue had arisen at prior hearings.

Following discussion, County Counsel read the motion authorizing the county to record liens and enter the amounts on the assessment roll. The board seconded the motion and approved it unanimously, 4-0.

The county will record the liens with the Lake County Recorder and deliver them to the county auditor for entry on the assessment roll. Staff said it will continue monitoring the Dry Creek site and coordinate with state and federal agencies about remediation of the upper mine area; staff also said it will update the county’s contracting and invoicing procedures to provide more detail for future abatement actions.

Votes at a glance: the board approved recording liens for three properties (11850 Dry Creek Road — $57,864.41; 4258 Lake Shore Drive — $22,980.45; 4270 Lake Shore Drive — $49,490.22) by a recorded vote of 4-0.