Category: Cobb Abatement Monitoring

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The standing dead trees throughout Cobb are disheartening reminders of all that we lost in the Valley Fire.  Not only are they impeding the emotional recovery of the community, but are now precarious hazards that threaten the people that live here, work crews, and the new homes being built.  The foresters in Boggs have shared that most of the standing dead ponderosa pines will fall within 2 years of the Fire.  The recent storms have brought down several trees already, one causing damage to a vehicle.  The county government is not in a position to help with abatement because they have neither the funding, nor the resources to devote to such a complicated problem.  The key to clearing away the charred remains of our precious trees, is to work together as friends and neighbors.
The CAC Abatement Monitoring Committee has developed this plan to help residents communicate with their neighbors and take advantage of the free programs that are currently offered to the Cobb community.

1. Communicate with your neighbors early and often.

Talk to you neighbors about their plans for the future.  If they have relocated out of the area, their new address can be found at the assessor’s office at the County courthouse.  Let them know that the dead trees on their property are depressing the neighborhood, and are now considered hazardous. They can be held liable for any damage caused by the trees on their property.  BUT they could be eligible for the free tree removal programs (see below).

2. Address the hazardous trees before construction begins.

Before anything new is built, have the trees removed, especially on your own property.  New construction greatly complicates tree removal, and the free programs are not available if construction has begun. If the trees are not on your property, contact your neighbor to develop a plan.  Here is a list of free local programs and resources.

3. Complications with Neighbors

If your neighbor is unwilling to remove their hazardous trees, and the trees could potentially cause harm to your family, work crews and new home, write them a letter explaining that they hold full legal responsibility for any damage, injury or death that occurs as a result of their hazardous tree falling on your property.  If there is still no response, seek legal counsel.  Keep a detailed record of all conversations and correspondence, and send all letters via certified mail with return address to verify receipt as well as First Class. This way, if they don’t sign the certified mail receipt, you will be able to point out that the First Class item was never returned to you.
Andre Ross of Ewing and Associates in Lakeport attended the December CAC meeting.  Please review the minutes for a detailed description of his legal advice.

These programs offer free or low-cost help with tree removal and clean-up.

• The Trees Project is a local program using the trees as a resource for rebuilding.  They work with a licensed timber operator and a mill in Ukiah, and can help remove unwanted trees.  Brenda Quintero is the Founder/Director and can be reached at (925)-209-9497.
• Lake County Lumber LLC at the Hoberg’s property is also willing to cut trees down for free, but removal may be at an extra cost.  Contact Dan Nelson at 866-735-4709
• Lake County Air Quality Management District and the Lake County Resource Conservation District have partnered to offer chipping of brush, branches and tree trunks up to ten inches in diameter to owners of small parcels in the Valley Fire Recovery Area. The service is available at NO COST to the landowner, who must first cut down the trees, limb them out, and haul woody materials (please no blackberries or poison oak!) to the edge of the road.

Please review the list of local tree specialists and resources.

The residents of Cobb are weary of living with the fire-killed trees, which are a blight on the community and stalling healing and recovery.  The trees also jeopardize rebuilding efforts.  Friends and neighbors that have left the area may not realize the emotional impact the dead trees are having on the community.  Please reach out to these property owners and offer the help of our free programs and share the resources available.  For further discussion, please attend CAC meetings on the 3rd Thursday of each month.

UPDATE February 7, 2017

If efforts to contact neighbors have failed, and there is a new home or structure still being threatened, the County may be able to help mitigate the danger.  Contact Rob Brown for further assistance at (707) 349-2628.  Be prepared to offer proof that the neighbor has been contacted and unresponsive.  Rob will have the hazardous tree evaluated by a certified forester, then removed if it is deemed a threat.  The County will then bill the property owner.
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After a couple of weeks’ delay caused mainly by rain storms, Cobb Abatement Monitoring Committee members Jessica Pyska, Jessyca Lytle, Glenneth Lambert and Karl Parker met with Hobergs General Manager Dan Nelson on November 8, 2016. (Hobergs Development Director Scott Schellinger was not present, but was expected to return to work the next day, after an extended absence due to travel and illness.)
Dan reported that the pace of work is picking up. They now have a work force of over 50 people on site. Jakela Environmental Services is now engaged in taking final samples on a couple of sites and waiting for the County staff to sign off on notifications and paperwork required for the work to proceed. Once those details are nailed down, Jakela will begin the specialized asbestos removal (@ sites with over 1% of friable asbestos). They could begin as early as 11/9/16 and estimate that they will be able to complete their part of the work in two weeks, focusing on areas of contamination in the remains of 39 structures. (As reported previously, Jakela Environmental Services has been working in the field of asbestos and other HAZMAT removal for 30 years. Anyone interested in learning more can go to their web site at http://jakelainc.com/)
In the meantime, on-site crews have continued clearing the debris from sites containing no asbestos, and those containing less than 1%. 25 to 30 of these structures – mainly situated along the ridge at the back of the property — are now complete. As Jakela crews finish the more contaminated sites, Hobergs crews will move in and complete the work. This work will continue on the weekends, as they push to complete the entire project before heavy rains set in. This is critical as rain and mud can make it impossible to work. In addition, the extra weight induced by the water adds significantly to the dump fees, which already are significant.
Local archeologist John Parker has been on-site, collecting and documenting artifacts that are being discovered during the debris-removal. It is hoped that at some future date these will be displayed at an on-site museum.
The wood processing/removal project has increased output with the addition of extra equipment. They are now moving 45 to 50 cords per week. 130 to 140 loads of wood have been delivered to local residents, out of a total of 200 orders placed.
Questions? Comments? Concerns? Please post a note below or contact me at karl.parker@mchsi.com or 592-1649.
Karl Parker, Cobb Abatement Monitoring Committee
PS – the photo depicts Dan Nelson showing Committee members the map of the Hobergs property, pointing out sites that have been completed, and those yet to be worked on.

This report is a compilation of information presented at the October 20, 2016 meeting of the Cobb Area Council, and an update provided by Hobergs General Manager Dan Nelson on October 25, 2016. (Hobergs Development Director Scott Schellinger has been laid up with pneumonia the last couple of weeks)

The most important development is that Hobergs has hired Jakela Environmental Services to handle the specialized asbestos removal. This company has been working with FACS (the company that did the testing and prepared the abatement plan approved by the County) on other projects. They have been working in the field of asbestos and other HAZMAT removal for 30 years. Anyone interested in learning more can go to their web site at http://jakelainc.com/ Their plan is to begin when the rain lets up.

Here’s a summary of progress to date:

• SITES CLEARED (as of 10/20/2016)

• 24 Buildings Cleared
• The two motel buildings are cleared.
• 40 buildings/sites remaining

• SCRAP METAL REMOVED:

• 23 forty-foot containers (as of 10/25/16)
• Virtually all of the scrap metal is now gone.

• debris removed.

• Approx. 30 loads to dump as of (10/20/16)
• 12 more trips to the dump with general debris (as of 10/25/16)

• number of workers engaged

• 12 HAZMAT-certified workers on-site, as well as 40 general laborers working mainly on the wood processing operation.  (Combination of paid employees/ and workers provided via CA Human Resource Grant)

• days of operation

• 7 days/week ? (lost 3 days due to rain last week; 2 this week so far)

• status of permits

• meeting 10/20/16 with FACS and Jakela Environmental Specialist (HAZMAT contractor) to prepare final notifications required for County
• specialized HAZMAT debris removal @ contaminated sites (> 1% asbestos) will begin as soon as weather permits.

• wood processing:

• New equipment has Increased output to 7 – 12 Cords per day
• FREE FIREWOOD – 32 deliveries in the last two weeks (approx. 170 orders to date)
• 12.5 Cords shipped since 10/20/16

Obviously, the rainy weather has become a factor that has slowed progress quite a bit. However, to all appearances, the Hobergs management remains committed to maintaining momentum and bringing the project to completion as soon as possible. The Abatement Monitoring Committee continues to maintain regular contact with the Hobergs management, as well as County officials in order to support and encourage successful completion of the goal.

Questions? Comments? Concerns? Please post a note below or contact me at karl.parker@mchsi.com or 592-1649.

Karl Parker, Cobb Abatement Monitoring Committee

PS – the photos were taken 10/20/16 and give some idea of what’s been accomplished.