Published: November 24, 2009 10:37 pm      

McConnell still in hot water

Health officials plan more legal action

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