Pubdate: Tue, 25 Apr 2006
Source: Charleston Daily Mail (WV)
Copyright: 2006 Charleston Daily Mail
Contact:  http://www.dailymail.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/76
Author: Michael A. Jones
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

METH ORDINANCE AFFECTS RESIDENCES

Kanawha County officials say they have condemned 23 houses used to 
produce methamphetamine since last July when a public nuisance 
ordinance was passed to address public health issues.

The ordinance forces a property owner to either clean the home or 
hire a contractor to raze the property. If neither is an option, the 
county will demolish the home and place a lien against the property. 
Of the 23 houses that have been condemned since the ordinance passed 
last year, five were demolished, six have been cleaned and are 
reoccupied, and 12 are being tested and awaiting a final decision.

The most recent property to fall under the ordinance was a home in 
Hernshaw, where police said they found a clandestine lab Thursday 
night. County Commissioner Kent Carper and Kanawha County Sheriff 
Mike Rutherford began discussing a public nuisance ordinance last 
year not long after the sheriff installed the meth tip line.

Both said it seemed ridiculous to send families back into 
contaminated homes only days -- and in some cases hours -- after 
police made arrests and removed meth-making materials. Police 
officers usually wear protective suits and air respirators before 
heading to a meth lab.

"Apparently no one has really attacked the problem on the location of 
where they're making (meth)," Rutherford said. "It just makes sense 
because you don't want people going in right after we're in there 
with all that safety gear." Less than a year after its passage, the 
ordinance has received interest from other states with similar 
issues. Rutherford pointed to inquiries by police departments in 
Kentucky and Illinois.

"It's been a very good tool," Rutherford said. "In fact we're getting 
calls from other parts of the country to see how we're doing this 
because I guess it's pretty unique. It had a lot of foresight to it." 
Immediately after police remove all evidence from the house, the 
county's Planning Authority tests the interior of the home -- 
including the ductwork, furniture, carpet, clothes and even 
children's toys -- before a decision on property can be made.

Acceptable chemicals levels are determined by state requirements in 
Oregon and Washington because West Virginia has yet to adopt 
standardized testing. The property will not be inhabited until after 
the property is once again tested and deemed safe, said Kanawha 
County Planning Director Susan Blake. If the county is forced to raze 
the residence, property owners may not sell the lot until they pay 
for the demolition.

"But there's no guarantee the property will ever be sold," Blake 
said. Carper said the ordinance is written to address all dilapidated 
houses, but he admitted it mainly targets meth lab sites.

"People should be responsible about their own property," he said. 
"But there is always a misfit out there who doesn't want to be a good 
neighbor." He dubbed the ordinance "shock-and-awe" because "it sends 
a real message out to people who rent or own property that there is a 
price to pay." County officials said they have seen a movement by 
some landlords to pay more attention to their tenants' behavior.

"Quite a few of them want to know how they can keep people from 
cooking meth in their homes, and we've been glad to help them," 
Rutherford said. "It's made landlords be more aware and keep a closer 
eye on their properties." Carper said there is a fine line between 
public safety and a neighborhood nuisance. While the ordinance should 
be a deterrent against meth labs and a way to protect people from 
dangerous chemicals, he believes it should be used as a last resort 
when demolishing homes.

"But until someone proves me wrong, we believe this program makes 
sense," Carper said.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom