dissimulo
Membership Revoked
Gah! This kind of stuff makes my blood boil. If you own the property, you should be able to have a pile of charred debris on it as long as you like.
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2008/05/17/local_news/01news.txt
Hoquiam woman looking for help
BY JACOB JONES - The Daily World
Saturday, May 17, 2008 12:11 AM PDT
Kitty Rowell wonders why demolition crews left it. They didn’t leave anything else.
But there it sat, a chipped statue of a red rabbit with her babies. It is the last of the treasures Rowell collected in the 35 years before a fire destroyed her Hoquiam home last December.
“That’s the only thing they forgot,” she said of the statue, “and I don’t know why they left it.”
Rowell eyed the rabbit while smoking a cigarette Wednesday near what was left of the home’s bare foundation. She leaned on a damaged RV that now contains most of her possessions. Drops of rain clung to the 71-year-old’s hair.
“They took the mail box too,” she added.
Recently, the City of Hoquiam forcibly removed tons of charred debris remaining from the fire citing public safety issues. Officials then presented Rowell with a bill of more than $14,000 for the work — due next month.
Meanwhile, Rowell sleeps in her car at the curb of her property. Living on $700 a month in disability checks, she said she doesn’t have anywhere else to go. Her dog, TV, keeps her company.
City officials say they cut Rowell every break they could, but on April 23 and 24 they brought in crews to clean up what had become a safety risk and public nuisance.
Building official Orlando “Lon” Howell said the city only arranged the clean-up after Rowell proved she could not do it herself.
“The idea was not to make a hardship on her,” Howell said. “It was a toxic site and definitely unsafe.”
He said the city sought a lower price, but a third lien will be placed on the property if she doesn’t pay the $14,293 bill by June 6. The cost includes hauling away the tangled debris, demolishing a shed and removing unsafe concrete footings.
“It’s an empty lot now,” he said.
Four months after the fire, Rowell still fought to continue her salvage efforts, picking through the blackened remains of her home even as heavy machinery hauled it away.
Plastic tote boxes of newly-bought items like coffee and spices were taken with the trash, she said. Quality lumber and recyclable metal were taken away before she could try to get money for them.
“She had four months to remove whatever she wanted,” the building official responded. “She had three different letters stating that.”
Rowell’s daughter, Darcy Calchina, said she was “appalled” by the entire situation. She listed dishes, food goods and small appliances all hauled away by the clean-up effort.
“I don’t understand how the city can come in and take everything somebody owns because their house burned down,” she said. “But that’s what they did.”
Calchina said the family has helped as much as they can, but it’s difficult. Habitat for Humanity and the Federal Emergency Management Agency have turned her down.
She said the city is only making things harder.
“They just treat her like she’s not even human,” Calchina said. “I understand the city had to go in there, but I don’t agree with how they did it. They took everything and threw in the Dumpster.”
Building official Howell said the city has been patient, slowly trying to move things forward.
He understands that “everything’s a treasure to somebody,” but the city has a responsibility to other citizens.
“I like Kitty,” he said. “(But) the law is the law and we have to uphold the law.”
He suggested low-income housing or an assisted-living facility might be a better fit for Rowell.
Calchina said that’s unlikely. Her mother has until Dec. 22 to start rebuilding and she will continue fighting to bring back her home. Rowell is now looking for help to create a new set of blueprints.
“She’ll do it one board at a time,” Calchina said. “That’s her piece of property. ... She’s still determined to live there.”
Rowell walked the edge of the concrete foundation, rain splashing in the flooded spots. TV barked from inside the motor home. She said her first step was to determine new dimensions for her home.
She has also been making trips to the library to read up on building codes and insurance regulations.
“The code book is about this thick,” she said, holding her fingers a few inches apart.
Those fingers and hands were blackened for weeks as she dug through the remains of her home pulling out unharmed pieces of her artwork and other small surprises.
“All the stuff that I had gotten out that wasn’t damaged,” she said. Gone.
Everything left fits in the RV, her car or a pop-up trailer at the curb. She constantly worries about moving the vehicles every 72 hours so they don’t get towed.
She hopes for something to give her a chance to get started again, she said. Three women and some neighbors offered help early on, but now that she wants to rebuild offers have disappeared.
“I haven’t had any offers of help from anybody — anybody or anything,” she said. “Not one call.”
Rain dripped down the side of the red rabbit statue. Birds fluttered near her car where she would again spend the night. She lit another cigarette.
“I just need some help.”
Jacob Jones, a Daily World writer, can be reached at 532-4000, ext. 129, or by e-mail at jjones@thedailyworld.com.
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2008/05/17/local_news/01news.txt
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2008/05/17/local_news/01news.txt
Hoquiam woman looking for help
BY JACOB JONES - The Daily World
Saturday, May 17, 2008 12:11 AM PDT
Kitty Rowell wonders why demolition crews left it. They didn’t leave anything else.
But there it sat, a chipped statue of a red rabbit with her babies. It is the last of the treasures Rowell collected in the 35 years before a fire destroyed her Hoquiam home last December.
“That’s the only thing they forgot,” she said of the statue, “and I don’t know why they left it.”
Rowell eyed the rabbit while smoking a cigarette Wednesday near what was left of the home’s bare foundation. She leaned on a damaged RV that now contains most of her possessions. Drops of rain clung to the 71-year-old’s hair.
“They took the mail box too,” she added.
Recently, the City of Hoquiam forcibly removed tons of charred debris remaining from the fire citing public safety issues. Officials then presented Rowell with a bill of more than $14,000 for the work — due next month.
Meanwhile, Rowell sleeps in her car at the curb of her property. Living on $700 a month in disability checks, she said she doesn’t have anywhere else to go. Her dog, TV, keeps her company.
City officials say they cut Rowell every break they could, but on April 23 and 24 they brought in crews to clean up what had become a safety risk and public nuisance.
Building official Orlando “Lon” Howell said the city only arranged the clean-up after Rowell proved she could not do it herself.
“The idea was not to make a hardship on her,” Howell said. “It was a toxic site and definitely unsafe.”
He said the city sought a lower price, but a third lien will be placed on the property if she doesn’t pay the $14,293 bill by June 6. The cost includes hauling away the tangled debris, demolishing a shed and removing unsafe concrete footings.
“It’s an empty lot now,” he said.
Four months after the fire, Rowell still fought to continue her salvage efforts, picking through the blackened remains of her home even as heavy machinery hauled it away.
Plastic tote boxes of newly-bought items like coffee and spices were taken with the trash, she said. Quality lumber and recyclable metal were taken away before she could try to get money for them.
“She had four months to remove whatever she wanted,” the building official responded. “She had three different letters stating that.”
Rowell’s daughter, Darcy Calchina, said she was “appalled” by the entire situation. She listed dishes, food goods and small appliances all hauled away by the clean-up effort.
“I don’t understand how the city can come in and take everything somebody owns because their house burned down,” she said. “But that’s what they did.”
Calchina said the family has helped as much as they can, but it’s difficult. Habitat for Humanity and the Federal Emergency Management Agency have turned her down.
She said the city is only making things harder.
“They just treat her like she’s not even human,” Calchina said. “I understand the city had to go in there, but I don’t agree with how they did it. They took everything and threw in the Dumpster.”
Building official Howell said the city has been patient, slowly trying to move things forward.
He understands that “everything’s a treasure to somebody,” but the city has a responsibility to other citizens.
“I like Kitty,” he said. “(But) the law is the law and we have to uphold the law.”
He suggested low-income housing or an assisted-living facility might be a better fit for Rowell.
Calchina said that’s unlikely. Her mother has until Dec. 22 to start rebuilding and she will continue fighting to bring back her home. Rowell is now looking for help to create a new set of blueprints.
“She’ll do it one board at a time,” Calchina said. “That’s her piece of property. ... She’s still determined to live there.”
Rowell walked the edge of the concrete foundation, rain splashing in the flooded spots. TV barked from inside the motor home. She said her first step was to determine new dimensions for her home.
She has also been making trips to the library to read up on building codes and insurance regulations.
“The code book is about this thick,” she said, holding her fingers a few inches apart.
Those fingers and hands were blackened for weeks as she dug through the remains of her home pulling out unharmed pieces of her artwork and other small surprises.
“All the stuff that I had gotten out that wasn’t damaged,” she said. Gone.
Everything left fits in the RV, her car or a pop-up trailer at the curb. She constantly worries about moving the vehicles every 72 hours so they don’t get towed.
She hopes for something to give her a chance to get started again, she said. Three women and some neighbors offered help early on, but now that she wants to rebuild offers have disappeared.
“I haven’t had any offers of help from anybody — anybody or anything,” she said. “Not one call.”
Rain dripped down the side of the red rabbit statue. Birds fluttered near her car where she would again spend the night. She lit another cigarette.
“I just need some help.”
Jacob Jones, a Daily World writer, can be reached at 532-4000, ext. 129, or by e-mail at jjones@thedailyworld.com.
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2008/05/17/local_news/01news.txt
