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Clean it up or tear it down, Canfield homeowner told
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Brian Spin
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Betsy Spin
Making the filthy home habitable may cost more than the property is worth, a health board member said.
By Elise Franco
AUSTINTOWN — The Mahoning County Board of Health has told the owner of a Brookpark Drive, Canfield, home to make it livable or tear it down.
At a special meeting Monday, the board voted on the abatement order for 535 Brookpark Drive, which is owned by John and Georgia Holowach, said Mary Helen Smith, director of environmental health.
No one representing the family attended the meeting.
The Holowachs’ daughter, Betsy Spin, 32, and her husband Brian Spin, 38, lived in the home. They were ordered to leave it Oct. 22 after Canfield city police and the Mahoning County Dog Warden removed two children, ages 2 and 7, and 10 animals from the home.
Detective Brian McGivern said the house was filled with garbage, mold, and animal and human waste. The residence was described by authorities as deplorable and uninhabitable. The animals were later euthanized due to their poor health.
The couple pleaded innocent Oct. 27 to two counts of child endangering and nine counts of animal cruelty.
Smith said the health board’s order, which is expected to be served today, says the Holowachs must either immediately begin taking steps toward fixing the home or decide to demolish it.
“The expectation is they engage in getting contractors and prices to remediate the house,” she said. “The order states what they have to do ... They basically have to make the home livable.”
Board member Leonard Perry said it’s possible the renovation work will cost as much or more than the home is actually worth.
“When that wood gets saturated with urine and feces like that, there’s no getting it out,” he said. “You have to remove it all.”
The total market value of the property is listed as $344,600 on the Mahoning County Auditor’s Web site.
Smith said the order states the homeowners must hire professional contractors due to the extreme condition of the home. She said for the house to pass inspection, plumbing and leaks must be fixed, all mold removed, carpets and porous surfaces torn up and disposed of and all hard surfaces cleaned and disinfected.
Smith said standard abatement orders give the property owner seven, 15 or 30 days to begin work, but this order goes into effect immediately. She said if the board feels work hasn’t begun in a reasonable amount of time, Canfield Prosecutor Nick Modarelli can step in and file charges.
efranco@vindy.com
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Comments
I really don't see the point. Who's going to pay for the repairs? Brian and Betsy Spin, who owe over $75,000 in credit card balances, according to the public records search? The same people who have already had one house foreclosed on them?
Or since Mrs. Hollowach owns the house, will she be paying for it? Hm, probably would have just been cheaper to pick up after her slob of a daughter and son-in-law.
Besides, even after they fix it, unless they plan on keeping it, who would even buy that house after what just happened?
Seems like a waste of time and money that will probably never get paid.
The Cardinal Fire District should do a controlled burn there. It is far enough away from neighboring homes.
Demolish the home, and erect a dog park on the site as a memorial for other residents and their pets. Brian & Betsy need to do jail time for their crimes. I cringe when I imagine a 2 y.o. toddler learning to walk and falling in toxic waste, day after day. Imagine eating or sleeping among such filth, with parasites and worms crawling amidst the excretions and mold. Don't wimp out Canfield PD - throw the book at them like you do insignificant crimes against other people.
This home needs to be burned. Cleaning can only due so much and the health effects can transpire to workers attempting to clean and even a prospective homeowner due to the amount of waste and mold in the home. As aeparish mentioned, a staggering credit card debt is also a marker to the courts that there is no way to revitalize such a stoic home with the current owner's capital.
WE ARE ALL MISSING A VERY IMPORTANT PIECE OF THE PUZZLE. SOME THING HAS GONE VERY WRONG HERE. I HAVE NOT KNOWN THIS FAMILY TO BE SO FAR OFF THE BEAM. I HOPE CANFIELD AND THE COUNTY GETS THIS FAMILY THE HELP THEY NEED. WHAT HAPPENED TO SEND TWO FAMILIES ON SUCH A DOWNWARD SPIRAL.
SkipShip-
In a previous discussion, a person commented how he or she knew Brian personally and how drugs or alcohol are very likely players in this situation. I doubt any psychological problems were the reason for this, it just seems that drugs are the most likely player in the problems for this family. Living for the moment and not caring about anything else, just getting "messed" up.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/44304733@N0...
Move it out here to Boardman most of the homes smell that bad out here
Whoever had my photos removed from Picassa, here's your reward:
http://www.rateitall.com/i-2769278-canfi...
TO: HOPE4THEVALLEY-
WHAT A HORRIBLE THING TO SAY.
DO YOU LIVE IN BOARDMAN??