Holiday Farm Fire survivors frustrated over slow permitting process

Holiday Farm Fire survivors frustrated over slow permitting process

Kezi 9 news at 6" the holiday farm fire burned nearly 500 homes last september.

Now, some property owners who want to rebuild say theye having to jump through hoops to get it done.

Thank you for joining us i'm renee mccullough, matt templeman has the night off.

Kezi 9 news reporter jacob roberts spoke with one couple going through the process and explains what the county is doing to make it easier.

Jan and william helfrich lost a lot in the fire.

This empty patch of ground in vida was once their home.

:06 jan helfrich/lost home in fire says,?i've been in this house - i lived in it - just over 35 - this year would have been 35 years?

Their barn burned down too.

But they never questioned whether they would rebuild.

:15 jacob roberts says,?the home used to sit right there.

After the fire, many people were told if they had a home here before the fire, they would be able to rebuild in the same spot.

But now theye finding out that the process was a little more complicated than they though?

Jan helfrich/lost home in fire says,?i have never been able to get anybody on the phone./ it's been just a pain in the rear to get informatio?

Several people familiar with the rebuilding effort claim the county planning office is understaffed and overworked.

A check of the county recovery map shows few properties have been issued permits to begin construction.

Part of the reason for the slowdown?jan says?is the pandemic, plus bureacratic requirements they think the county should waive.

The couple had to prove that their property was liveable, despite having lived there for decades.

They also must complete an expensive geo- technical report, which predicts the risk of landslides.

These are steps that take extra time and money when residents say it should be a streamlined process.

Nat from dan hurley/ lane county public works director -- wee here to discuss this growing issu?

The county held a special meeting wednesday morning on the topic.

The planning department confirmed they are in over their heads, asking county leaders for six more employees to process permits.

And in another big change, the county is poised to waive many of the permit fees required to rebuild a home.

1:26 heather buch/lane county commissioner says,?we are seeing people put their places up for sale.

I want to see people come back into that community as soon as humanly possibl?

But there no concrete plan on how to pay for it.

Right now- it just talk.

The county board is expected to take up the issue and possibly vote on the changes next week.

In vida, jr, kezi 9 news.

The county is trying to help un- tangle the rebuilding process in other ways too.

Earlier this week the board of commissioners unanimously accepted a 750 thousand dollar grant from the state.

That money pay for two full time staff members and resources to help fire victims navigate the recovery process.