Kokomo homeowner Roger McConnell may have a patched roof and running water, but it’s likely not enough to stave off the Howard County Health Department.
McConnell, 61, is fighting to stay in the house his family built in 1926.
Health officials, however, declared McConnell’s home unfit for human habitation this summer, saying it had no working sanitation and was overrun with cats and vermin.
Howard County Superior 4 Judge George Hopkins agreed with the health department at an October hearing, but declined the department’s request McConnell be barred from the property.
Instead, Hopkins gave McConnell until Nov. 14 to rectify the numerous problems cited.
Tuesday, Howard County Health Department director Kent Weaver said the county will continue to press the case.
“There will be a next step,” Weaver said. “We’ve looked at the issue, and we feel there still is an issue.
“That’s about all I can say,” he added. “The decision is ultimately going to be up to the court.”
County health officer James Vest and another department official made an inspection of the property Nov. 16, escorted by a Kokomo police officer.
McConnell allowed the officers to inspect the interior of the home for about 15 minutes. They had no comment as they re-emerged.
McConnell also allowed visitors inside the home, which is almost completely filled with boxes, rubble and trash. Paths through the mess run from the back door to the front room, and to the bathroom.
In court testimony, McConnell said the bathroom hadn’t had water service for close to two years, because he hadn’t made repairs.
At the Nov. 16 inspection, the bathroom was covered in dirt, but running water had been restored, according to a friend who was helping McConnell.
The house was also free of feral cats, and a hole in the roof had been patched. But the house also had clutter reaching to the ceiling in almost every room, a pervasive smell of mildew and rot, and no heat.
The health department must go back to Hopkins’ court to have the house condemned.
McConnell would then have to find a new accommodation.
• Scott Smith is a Kokomo Tribune staff writer. He may be reached at 765-454-8569 or via e-mail at scott.smith@kokomotribune.com
Local News
McConnell still in hot water
Health officials plan more legal action
- Local News
-
-
Entire U.S. 31 corridor now under contract
Every segment of the 13.1-mile, U.S. 31 Kokomo Corridor is now officially under construction.
-
Northwestern to graduate 130 seniors
Peyton Hite ended her last day in high school by going home and washing sheep.
“It’s part of living on a farm,” she said, with a laugh.
-
Drugs, cash seized, four arrested
Police from four agencies seized heroin, pills, syringes and cash, and arrested four people this week after a raid on a house on East Street, according to police reports.
-
Lafayette job fair expects Kokomo hopefuls
Organizers of a Lafayette job fair next week are reaching out to Kokomo residents looking for work.
-
Deputy prosecutor facing two charges
A Howard County deputy prosecutor will face two drunken-driving charges in connection with a traffic stop in Cicero.
-
Governor honors student
A Northwestern High School senior achieved a milestone Thursday when he became the first Indiana student ever to win both of the state’s top science awards.
-
Taylor considering staff reductions
A decline in enrollment has forced Taylor School Corp. to consider staff reductions, but the board won’t vote on the issue until next week, officials said Thursday.
-
Schools among top 20 in Indiana
Three area schools were ranked among the top 20 in Indiana this year by U.S. News and World Report.
Tri-Central Middle/High School, Eastern Junior-Senior High School and Tipton High School all made the list, which was an evaluation of 379 high schools across the state.
-
Library starts iPad rental program
Apple can’t make enough iPads to satisfy demand, but the Kokomo-Howard County Public Library now owns 15 iPad2 units.
Thursday, social media-conscious library patrons scrambled to borrow the tablet computers, on the first official day of the library’s iPad lending program.
-
Gov. names NW student 'Mr. Science' for 2012
Tyler Barnes becomes first Indiana student to be named Indiana's Top Young Scientist and Mr. Science.
- More Local News Headlines
-




