Open Sewage Found In Several City Homes

The city of Warsaw is investigating an unusually high number of complaints involving sewage problems in rental units.

Building inspector Pam Kennedy said four houses with septic problems have been or are in the midst of being repaired. Another was being investigated early today in which tenants on East Center Street said sewage was coming up through the drains. She said tenants told her they contacted the landlord last week, but later called the city out of concern.

In recent weeks, the department has investigated a handful of other sewage related violations.

"It is unusual to have this many at one time," Kennedy said.

"It's landlords not paying attention to their properties," she said. "They're not checking their properties for conditions, and when they are informed of the conditions, it's not a high priority."

Cases include two homes on Hillside Drive. The homes were both hooked into the same septic system, which is a violation. On top of that, the septic system was not functioning. City officials found raw sewage draining from one home onto a nearby property.

Another home, this one in Herscher Addition, was found to have sewage running underneath the structure because it was not properly connected to city sewer.

Except for the Center Street case, improvements are being made or have been made to all of the homes with sewage problems, Kennedy said.

Another home, located on Maple Street near Winona Avenue, was recently found to have structural problems after officials identified an exterior wall that could collapse. The family will move out within the next week, Kennedy said.

The building will be condemned and the city will seek to have it demolished, she said.

In a related note, Kennedy said talks with a downtown property owner have resulted in an agreement in which the landlord will have a structural inspection of the property. Kennedy said Jack Garber is now cooperating with the city concerning the Oddfellow building on the corner of South Buffalo and Market streets. Officials are concerned about the building because an exterior wall has moved slightly. In 1996 the city sought to have the building inspected every three months as a safety precaution.

Garber in the past has been reluctant to work with the city, according to a report issued to the Warsaw Board of Works Friday.