A two-story West Locust Street property, split up into several rental units with a total of six occupants, has had the natural gas turned off since October. The residents were relying on kerosene and electric heaters to heat the structure until they relocated this week to temporary housing after someone advised public officials of the situation.
"People don't need to live this way. I think these people are being taken advantage of there," said Wilmington Director of Public Service Larry Reinsmith.
Reportedly, the cost of rent covers utilities, according to Reinsmith.
"The residents had been doing a lot of unsafe things with kerosene heaters, electric heaters. They keep overloading the electric services," Reinsmith said.
The city has a housing maintenance code that includes minimal safety requirements, said Reinsmith.
In fact, the building on Friday was declared unfit for human habitation. There is no heat, plus there is leaking water, structural problems and the place is infested with cockroaches, according to Reinsmith.
"If people out there are having these kind of [heating] problems, don't sit around and freeze. I mean, call us up at the building [inspector] department. We'll get it taken care of, we'll help you out," said Reinsmith.
A program named CHIP (Community Housing Improvement Program) can help some homeowners whose furnaces don't work properly, he said.
In fact, CHIP officials are having a hard time distributing the available dollars, said Reinsmith, noting that TV commercials have been broadcast trying to get people to apply for the money, a lot of which is grant money.
If local residents know of someone who needs help with furnaces or winterization, they can contact Emma Hall of CHIP at 382-5134.
According to the Web site of the Clinton County Auditor's Office, Wesley T. Jones is the listed owner of the West Locust Street rental property that's been declared unfit.
Election 2010
