Fortuna Cleans Up Residence That It Just Cleaned Up Last Fall

Trash taken from a Fortuna home.

Trash taken from a Fortuna home. [Photo provided by Wayne Hanson]

On July 8, a clean up which effectively began over a year ago (or over four years ago depending on how you look at it) began its final stages.

City workers began removing trash (again) from a home on Acacia Drive in Fortuna. According to retired Humboldt County Sheriff’s lieutenant Wayne Hanson (currently the part-time code compliance officer for Fortuna), even though at least two 40 yard dumpsters of waste were removed from the residence last October, more is having to be removed now.

“The house is condemned,” Hanson said. “Needles laying everywhere.”

The house has been the subject of neighbor complaints for years. As of last fall there had been 116 encounters with law enforcement in just four years as well as an attempted homicide at the home. In November of 2016, Fortuna residents voted in a three-quarter percent sales tax which allowed the City to hire on Hanson who has since been shepherding troubled properties either into compliance or, in this case, into being condemned.

Last fall, the City paid to have motorhomes and two dumpsters of waste removed. “The City spent $25,000 in the cleanup,” Hanson explained. “[It] was forced to clean it up because it was a health and safety issues.”

Hanson said he kept trying to work with the residents to maintain cleanliness on the property after the work last fall. “I’d been talking to them and talking to them,” he told us. “The neighborhood was complaining about the stench–the flies and the rats.”

Then, last month, Hanson said, they had an electrical fire inside the residence. He served an inspection warrant there.  “The electrical wiring was extremely dangerous,” he said. “The plumbing was disconnected….Feces and urine was going on the ground for at least four to six months.

This led to the home being condemned. “Everybody was removed three weeks ago,” he explained. He said that there were six city employees cleaning all day for probably close to eight hours.

The cost of the cleanup today will be added to a lien on the property. “Nobody’s been paying the taxes for three years,” Hanson told us. “After five years of not paying property taxes, the county can put your property up [for sale]. Then they can force a sale. With the property sold, the city and the county would be reimbursed.”

However, Hanson said this is the last option, the City tries to work with the residents.”We tell them please clean up,” Hanson explained.

But, if they refuse, the City can clean up the place themselves, eventually if the property is dangerous, they can condemn it. In any case, they can, when the property is sold, recoup their expenses.

The City will have to wait for their money, but the community is cleaner now. “Several neighbors have come up and thanked us,” Hanson said. “I think it’s kudos to the City for cleaning up the neighborhood.”

Earlier Chapter: 

Fortuna Cleans Up Residence That Had 116 Visits by Police in Four Years, Child Welfare Called

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15 Comments
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Crimestopper2
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Crimestopper2
3 years ago

GREAT GOING FORTUNA!!!

cu2morrow
Guest
cu2morrow
3 years ago

mentally ill ?

Please Check One
Guest
Please Check One
3 years ago
Reply to  cu2morrow

You can certainly call it that. Hoarding disorder affects 19 million Americans, or 6% of the population. It can be quite serious. Sounds like there was probably drug abuse added to the situation as well. Really sad to see that there were children involved at an earlier time. They are the real victims. Happy to learn there were no animals involved – at least it sounds that way – as they are all too often part of the hoard. Good job, Fortuna.

ADréanen
Guest
ADréanen
3 years ago

Sounds more like a vacant dwelling full of squatters, to me.

Joe
Guest
Joe
3 years ago

Bulldoze it!

Industrial Disease
Guest
Industrial Disease
3 years ago
Reply to  Joe

Isn’t that a training opportunity for the fire department
.

Theodore Sierra
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Theodore Sierra
3 years ago

Yep!!!

tax payer
Guest
tax payer
3 years ago

The City spent $25,000 in the cleanup,

last year commenters tried to make me believe that the homeowner paid it. dont they think that a chainlink fence and policing would be cheaper

Jesus, Chris
Guest
Jesus, Chris
3 years ago

If the taxes are not paid, the county should take the property, and auction it off!

Fortuna, The Silly City…

Steezyj
Guest
Steezyj
3 years ago
Reply to  Jesus, Chris

Only for 3 years. They can do it after 5

Guest
Guest
Guest
3 years ago

Wayne got my neighbors to clean their yard up. He was great!

Xhumboldter
Guest
3 years ago

Why would they pay to have their garbage hauled away when they know the City will do it for them?

Pinkman/Blue Meth
Guest
Pinkman/Blue Meth
3 years ago

Meth pathology and substance abuse makes for “shitty” neighbors. Would any sane person choose to purchase a home on that street?

Screw freedom, somebody needs to be institutionalized.

margot bray
Guest
margot bray
3 years ago

This looks worse than a dump. At least people sort there trash. I can’t believe that anyone would choose to live like that and not be ashamed. Sad how some people live………

Andoli
Guest
Andoli
3 years ago

I would not want to be downwind of that burn.