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Team HuskerBoard
Irregular News for 03.30.06
Peoria, IL -- The problem weighed heavily on Vera Zentko's mind. The problem was pigeon poop. And it also weighed heavily on the porch roof next door. There must've been a big flock of pigeons up there. The load of waste grew so massive, the roof collapsed.
The roof, poop and other pigeon gunk fell in a heap onto the porch of the South End dwelling. It was there for 10 days, and Zentko got sick of the horrible stink.
"No one realizes what a health hazard it is," says Zentko, 62.
For 40 years, she and her husband lived in a modest Cape Cod at 2703 W. Latrobe St. Most of that time, they got along well with a series of neighbors who lived a few feet away at the adjacent residence, 2701 W. Latrobe St.
But for the past two years, the place has sat empty - except for pigeons.
They roosted inside the porch roof, maybe also inside the house's attic. The dirty birds made a mess up there. Zentko could tell by the smell.
She would have liked to talk to the owner. But she never saw anyone come by.
So, in an effort to shoo away the pigeons, she'd shoot big rubber bands at them.
"It works sometimes," she says.
But mostly, the pigeons ignored her attack. They just keep roosting and pooping.
On March 13, the waste got too heavy. The roof collapsed, leaving a tangle of wood, shingles, bird doo, feathers and at least one cracked egg.
Zentko called several city departments, including code enforcement.
Further, she's worried about possible health hazards posed by the poop. She's often visited by her grandkids, including a 10-year-old with asthma. Zentko says the child's asthma has been flaring up since the porch collapsed.
Health experts warn of three potential diseases from pigeon droppings, the most common being histoplasmosis, which is spread by breathing in a feces-borne fungus. Symptoms of the disease (fatigue, fever, chest pain) can show up as early as three days after initial exposure. In some cases, death can occur.
Even if my kid didn't have asthma, I'd be worried. Who wants their children (or themselves) breathing in pigeon-poop fumes?
The pigeon-pleasing property is owned by Corrina Clendenen, who lists the same address as her permanent residence. I couldn't find her.
But the city has a bead on her.
"She's getting the (clean-up) bill," says Kurt Craanan, city code-enforcement manager.
Last week, a code inspector wrote up a work order to have a city worker scoop up the mess, he says. After I called Wednesday morning, Craanan was nice enough to put a "rush order" on the job. The city shoveled it all up later that day.
Afterward, Clendenen will be mailed a bill for $100.
She'll also soon get a summons to appear in housing court. Besides the porch roof, the house has other problems, such as a missing window.
At a hearing, the city will explain what she'll need to do to get the place up to code. If she fails, she'll get fined.
Zentko hopes city pressure will work, especially because the pigeons are still hanging around.
"I just want them to clean it up," she says.
Maybe then she can put away her rubber bands.
source
Peoria, IL -- The problem weighed heavily on Vera Zentko's mind. The problem was pigeon poop. And it also weighed heavily on the porch roof next door. There must've been a big flock of pigeons up there. The load of waste grew so massive, the roof collapsed.
The roof, poop and other pigeon gunk fell in a heap onto the porch of the South End dwelling. It was there for 10 days, and Zentko got sick of the horrible stink.
"No one realizes what a health hazard it is," says Zentko, 62.
For 40 years, she and her husband lived in a modest Cape Cod at 2703 W. Latrobe St. Most of that time, they got along well with a series of neighbors who lived a few feet away at the adjacent residence, 2701 W. Latrobe St.
But for the past two years, the place has sat empty - except for pigeons.
They roosted inside the porch roof, maybe also inside the house's attic. The dirty birds made a mess up there. Zentko could tell by the smell.
She would have liked to talk to the owner. But she never saw anyone come by.
So, in an effort to shoo away the pigeons, she'd shoot big rubber bands at them.
"It works sometimes," she says.
But mostly, the pigeons ignored her attack. They just keep roosting and pooping.
On March 13, the waste got too heavy. The roof collapsed, leaving a tangle of wood, shingles, bird doo, feathers and at least one cracked egg.
Zentko called several city departments, including code enforcement.
Further, she's worried about possible health hazards posed by the poop. She's often visited by her grandkids, including a 10-year-old with asthma. Zentko says the child's asthma has been flaring up since the porch collapsed.
Health experts warn of three potential diseases from pigeon droppings, the most common being histoplasmosis, which is spread by breathing in a feces-borne fungus. Symptoms of the disease (fatigue, fever, chest pain) can show up as early as three days after initial exposure. In some cases, death can occur.
Even if my kid didn't have asthma, I'd be worried. Who wants their children (or themselves) breathing in pigeon-poop fumes?
The pigeon-pleasing property is owned by Corrina Clendenen, who lists the same address as her permanent residence. I couldn't find her.
But the city has a bead on her.
"She's getting the (clean-up) bill," says Kurt Craanan, city code-enforcement manager.
Last week, a code inspector wrote up a work order to have a city worker scoop up the mess, he says. After I called Wednesday morning, Craanan was nice enough to put a "rush order" on the job. The city shoveled it all up later that day.
Afterward, Clendenen will be mailed a bill for $100.
She'll also soon get a summons to appear in housing court. Besides the porch roof, the house has other problems, such as a missing window.
At a hearing, the city will explain what she'll need to do to get the place up to code. If she fails, she'll get fined.
Zentko hopes city pressure will work, especially because the pigeons are still hanging around.
"I just want them to clean it up," she says.
Maybe then she can put away her rubber bands.
source