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EAST LIVERPOOL -- The owner of a Kent Street home condemned by the city inspector was given a reprieve Wednesday by the board of health, rather than see him forced to live in his car.
Kenneth Boso addressed the board during its monthly meeting, saying he recently purchased the house at 921 Kent St. and came home to find a notice on the door saying it was going to be condemned.
Boso said he had not received earlier letters from the Planning Department and said he did not own the property last year when the city tried to condemn it.
He said there was a large hole in the roof when he purchased the house and he bought a tarp to cover the hole until he could make repairs but he ended up switching jobs, getting injured and then a family member absconded with money he had set aside for the repairs, delaying the work.
Boso said he has no friends or family to help, so he has been doing the repairs on his own.
Inspector Kayla Crowl said the home was condemned not only because of the roof issue but because he had no electrical service or hot water, noting there was an electric cord running between the house and a neighbor's that he was using for power.
Boso said he had arranged for electric power to be turned on but the power company refused to do so until the roof was repaired and that he needed the board to give the city water department the OK to turn on water to the house, since it was turned off. He denied having any outstanding bills that would prevent reinstatement of those services.
"If you guys would let me save my house, I'd appreciate it. I bought it to fix up and give to my son when he's 18," Boso said.
Crowl said one of her concerns is Boso wanting to live in the home while working there, with the condition it is in, but he said he had stayed in the back half of the house, which is livable, when he had no place else to go, also saying he had slept in his Blazer in the back yard and could do so again.
"It's going to be no small feat to bring this (house) up to code," Crowl reminded the board.
"Why can't we give him 30 days? He can't live in his Blazer," board member Sarah Bricker said.
Member Amber Ramsey agreed, saying, "Give him time. At least he will have a place to walk into. If he lives in his car, it's the same thing, no water or electric. I'm not saying don't make him accountable, but give him 30 days."
Boso said he had applied to the CHIP program, which provides assistance to homeowners for repairs but had not heard anything, saying, "It's not easy when you're a felon. I wasn't always a good boy, but I paid my dues. Just know I'm doing the best I can."
After considerable discussion, the board agreed to give Boso until Nov. 5 to repair the roof, reinstate water and electric service and install a working toilet, with Crowl to contact the water department this week to have service turned on.
She cautioned Boso the water will be turned on "conditionally," and that they will sit down after the Nov. 5 deadline to discuss a timeline on repairs to the house, saying, "Communication is the key," and stressing that only significant reasons will be acceptable for future delays in progress.
Caldwell told Boso, "You're asking for an opportunity to get your house in order. I hope you take advantage of it."