Magna Carta News
Saturday, February 14, 2004
Many El Reno, Oklahoma homes without heat or utilities.
More living without heat and water
The problem has slipped from bad to worse over the past few years. Nowadays, even in the newer neighborhoods of three-bedroom homes, code enforcement officers spot houses without gas meters.
That’s almost always a sign that inside the house, the family is living without a source of heat — unless the occupants are using a space heater, said Maurice Spann, code enforcement officer.
Using a portable electric heater as a primary heating source is against city property codes.
“You can’t keep your house at an ambient 65 degrees with those things. They cycle off and on and the heat can’t get throughout the house. They can also end up being a fire hazard,” Spann said.
Rarely are the homes he spots without gas meters wired as all-electric. One of the first tasks Spann undertakes when he returns to city hall is to check the records to see if the address was issued a permit to convert to total electric. The conversions require a licensed contractor who obtains a permit to do the work.
City codes say occupied houses without basic utilities such as electricity, water, gas and sanitary sewer are unfit for human occupancy. Spann said there are at least 300 homes or apartments in El Reno that either do not have a furnace for heat, electricity for lights and appliances, hot and cold running water or an approved wastewater disposal system.
Spann and two other El Reno code enforcement officers encounter homes without utilities every day.
“It’s gotten worse, but not in the areas you would think it would get worse. We’re talking about working family neighborhoods. We get a lot of next-door neighbors who call us and say they know the house is occupied but ‘We haven’t seen lights on for three days,’” Spann said.
Some residents may not know the city has the authority to evict the family who does not have proper utilities, a requirement of the International Property Maintenance Code.
Children or the elderly are often the most vulnerable because of poor choices made by the family breadwinner. Recently he entered a home where electricity was providing power to a “cutting-edge” entertainment system that included a wall-mounted plasma-screen television.
Two small children ob-viously needing a bath were playing on the floor. The couple’s water and sewage services had been cut off because of lack of payment.
“As guardians of the public health, we’re caught between a rock and a hard place,” because if the city becomes involved, a certain process has to be initiated, meaning steps must be taken for the house to meet code. If all else fails, the family can be evicted.
“It’s hard to tell them ‘You can’t live here’ and then you’re turning them out in the cold,” Spann said. “It hurts my heart to see children in this situation.”
Community Development Director Robert Coleman said the problem has become significant and the concerns are intensified during the really cold months. He said lack of one or more utilities is particularly prevalent in Fair Addition, in the northeastern section of town.
“I can drive through a 12-block area between downtown and Shepard Street and spot 15 to 20 homes that are without one utility or another,” Spann said.
Once the officers determine violations and if children and the elderly are present, the police department and Oklahoma Department of Human Services may become involved. Other charges and penalties could apply such as a maximum fine of $200 plus court costs.
Most families might qualify for assistance if they are temporarily experiencing hard times.
“Most public utilities have relief funds set up for those who occasionally experience financial difficulty,” Spann said. “We will work with everyone in this matter, but we will be especially sensitive to those who cannot fend for themselves.”
Resources are available through Community Action Agency at 262-7042 or the Department of Human Services at 262-2030. The Ministerial Alliance can also be contacted through any church in town.
More living without heat and water
The problem has slipped from bad to worse over the past few years. Nowadays, even in the newer neighborhoods of three-bedroom homes, code enforcement officers spot houses without gas meters.
That’s almost always a sign that inside the house, the family is living without a source of heat — unless the occupants are using a space heater, said Maurice Spann, code enforcement officer.
Using a portable electric heater as a primary heating source is against city property codes.
“You can’t keep your house at an ambient 65 degrees with those things. They cycle off and on and the heat can’t get throughout the house. They can also end up being a fire hazard,” Spann said.
Rarely are the homes he spots without gas meters wired as all-electric. One of the first tasks Spann undertakes when he returns to city hall is to check the records to see if the address was issued a permit to convert to total electric. The conversions require a licensed contractor who obtains a permit to do the work.
City codes say occupied houses without basic utilities such as electricity, water, gas and sanitary sewer are unfit for human occupancy. Spann said there are at least 300 homes or apartments in El Reno that either do not have a furnace for heat, electricity for lights and appliances, hot and cold running water or an approved wastewater disposal system.
Spann and two other El Reno code enforcement officers encounter homes without utilities every day.
“It’s gotten worse, but not in the areas you would think it would get worse. We’re talking about working family neighborhoods. We get a lot of next-door neighbors who call us and say they know the house is occupied but ‘We haven’t seen lights on for three days,’” Spann said.
Some residents may not know the city has the authority to evict the family who does not have proper utilities, a requirement of the International Property Maintenance Code.
Children or the elderly are often the most vulnerable because of poor choices made by the family breadwinner. Recently he entered a home where electricity was providing power to a “cutting-edge” entertainment system that included a wall-mounted plasma-screen television.
Two small children ob-viously needing a bath were playing on the floor. The couple’s water and sewage services had been cut off because of lack of payment.
“As guardians of the public health, we’re caught between a rock and a hard place,” because if the city becomes involved, a certain process has to be initiated, meaning steps must be taken for the house to meet code. If all else fails, the family can be evicted.
“It’s hard to tell them ‘You can’t live here’ and then you’re turning them out in the cold,” Spann said. “It hurts my heart to see children in this situation.”
Community Development Director Robert Coleman said the problem has become significant and the concerns are intensified during the really cold months. He said lack of one or more utilities is particularly prevalent in Fair Addition, in the northeastern section of town.
“I can drive through a 12-block area between downtown and Shepard Street and spot 15 to 20 homes that are without one utility or another,” Spann said.
Once the officers determine violations and if children and the elderly are present, the police department and Oklahoma Department of Human Services may become involved. Other charges and penalties could apply such as a maximum fine of $200 plus court costs.
Most families might qualify for assistance if they are temporarily experiencing hard times.
“Most public utilities have relief funds set up for those who occasionally experience financial difficulty,” Spann said. “We will work with everyone in this matter, but we will be especially sensitive to those who cannot fend for themselves.”
Resources are available through Community Action Agency at 262-7042 or the Department of Human Services at 262-2030. The Ministerial Alliance can also be contacted through any church in town.
