Burket Continues Roach Talk
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Daniel [email protected]
The residents met at the Burket Fire Station, and for more than two hours swapped stories and asked questions of a trustee who is responsible for a home that was previously condemned by the health department.
The home at 109 W. Center St., Burket, is owned by a trust. Devon Borkholder was at the meeting stating he serves as the trustee for the home.
The home was condemned June 27.
The home was reinspected July 13 and remained condemned.
County Health Department Environmental Scientist Bruce Hammer returned to the home Aug. 24 and after inspection decided to remove the condemned sign.
Borkholder took exception to comments that neighbors would continue to alert people looking at the home that there is a cockroach problem.
“What I’m hearing is, neighbors are going to make sure that nobody lives there,” he said.
Borkholder and residents disagreed on whether potential renters knew about the problem.
Residents asserted that potential renters claimed they were never notified about the cockroaches.
Borkholder said he was up front with them about the issue.
During the meeting, it was brought up that the home is rent-to-own.
Borkholder nearly left 10 minutes into the meeting after saying he was continually interrupted while trying to answer questions.
The Burket Town Council held the meeting Thursday night.
Vicki Scott, who lives on Buffalo Street in Burket, asked Borkholder if he would switch his service to get rid of cockroaches.
Borkholder said he would get a new contract with Orkin and do whatever it took to get rid of the cockroaches.
One issue brought up was that the cockroaches from the home have gone to other homes.
While people like Scott have used exterminator services and bought products to rid their homes of cockroaches, some homes that have become infested haven’t been treated.
Residents talked about creating a fund to help those who haven’t treated their homes but decided against it.
“So if a roach shows up, and I’ve been treating my place, I’m going to get blamed,” said Borkholder.
Borkholder said he had previously had rental management companies for the property but wasn’t sure what he would do with it in the future.
One point of contention was when Borkholder was asked to not rent out his property for several months to allow for the cockroaches to be killed.
Borkholder said he couldn’t commit to keeping the building empty for several months.
“I don’t have a problem continuing treatment,” said Borkholder. “But leaving it empty? I don’t know about that.”
Scott asserted that the previous residents didn’t pay rent in the first place so keeping it empty shouldn’t be a big deal.
“That’s something I’d have to talk to the trust about,” said Borkholder.
When asked who in fact owned the home, since Borkholder said he was just a trustee, he declined to answer.
“Don’t go there,” said Borkholder. “Just leave it alone.”
Marvin McClone, who lives with Scott, said he has gone to the health department on several occasions and left without the assistance he was looking for.
Residents reported having both German and Brown Bandit cockroaches in their home.
Scott said that while Borkholder agreed to get new treatments, his refusal to commit to leaving the home empty was bothersome.
“They’re not in the food you eat,” said Scott. “They’re not in the coffee cups you drink out of. I’m not going to live like this anymore.”
Scott said it was embarrassing that people know she and her neighbors have cockroaches.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Borkholder suggested that with the scrutiny the property has come under, he may resign as trustee of the home.[[In-content Ad]]
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The residents met at the Burket Fire Station, and for more than two hours swapped stories and asked questions of a trustee who is responsible for a home that was previously condemned by the health department.
The home at 109 W. Center St., Burket, is owned by a trust. Devon Borkholder was at the meeting stating he serves as the trustee for the home.
The home was condemned June 27.
The home was reinspected July 13 and remained condemned.
County Health Department Environmental Scientist Bruce Hammer returned to the home Aug. 24 and after inspection decided to remove the condemned sign.
Borkholder took exception to comments that neighbors would continue to alert people looking at the home that there is a cockroach problem.
“What I’m hearing is, neighbors are going to make sure that nobody lives there,” he said.
Borkholder and residents disagreed on whether potential renters knew about the problem.
Residents asserted that potential renters claimed they were never notified about the cockroaches.
Borkholder said he was up front with them about the issue.
During the meeting, it was brought up that the home is rent-to-own.
Borkholder nearly left 10 minutes into the meeting after saying he was continually interrupted while trying to answer questions.
The Burket Town Council held the meeting Thursday night.
Vicki Scott, who lives on Buffalo Street in Burket, asked Borkholder if he would switch his service to get rid of cockroaches.
Borkholder said he would get a new contract with Orkin and do whatever it took to get rid of the cockroaches.
One issue brought up was that the cockroaches from the home have gone to other homes.
While people like Scott have used exterminator services and bought products to rid their homes of cockroaches, some homes that have become infested haven’t been treated.
Residents talked about creating a fund to help those who haven’t treated their homes but decided against it.
“So if a roach shows up, and I’ve been treating my place, I’m going to get blamed,” said Borkholder.
Borkholder said he had previously had rental management companies for the property but wasn’t sure what he would do with it in the future.
One point of contention was when Borkholder was asked to not rent out his property for several months to allow for the cockroaches to be killed.
Borkholder said he couldn’t commit to keeping the building empty for several months.
“I don’t have a problem continuing treatment,” said Borkholder. “But leaving it empty? I don’t know about that.”
Scott asserted that the previous residents didn’t pay rent in the first place so keeping it empty shouldn’t be a big deal.
“That’s something I’d have to talk to the trust about,” said Borkholder.
When asked who in fact owned the home, since Borkholder said he was just a trustee, he declined to answer.
“Don’t go there,” said Borkholder. “Just leave it alone.”
Marvin McClone, who lives with Scott, said he has gone to the health department on several occasions and left without the assistance he was looking for.
Residents reported having both German and Brown Bandit cockroaches in their home.
Scott said that while Borkholder agreed to get new treatments, his refusal to commit to leaving the home empty was bothersome.
“They’re not in the food you eat,” said Scott. “They’re not in the coffee cups you drink out of. I’m not going to live like this anymore.”
Scott said it was embarrassing that people know she and her neighbors have cockroaches.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Borkholder suggested that with the scrutiny the property has come under, he may resign as trustee of the home.[[In-content Ad]]
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