Donora resident seeks help with roach problem

By KRISTIE LINDEN

klinden@yourmvi.com

The house at 709 Waddell Ave. in Donora has sat vacant for about two years, according to neighbors, with one exception — roaches.

Cindy Burns, who lives across the street, told Donora council members Thursday that she can’t take it anymore.

The last tenants who lived in the house moved two years ago and left behind a mess in the backyard, Burns said, adding that the property has been neglected ever since.

Burns said she and two elderly neighbors suffer from roaches invading their properties every day. The neighbors have taken to carrying roach spray with them outside, just in case.

When Burns finds one of the insects in her home, she desperately cleans the entire area, from top to bottom, almost compulsively. 

As Burns is about to have spinal surgery, she said her fear is that it will be about six weeks until she’ll be well enough to deal with the roaches the way she feels she has to if they make into her house. Burns has no doubt they will because she sees them daily.

Burns has gone to borough council previously and has heard that letters have been sent to the owner, who allegedly lives in the state of New York, about the problem. Burns said last night she’s done hearing about letters that have been sent.

“I can’t deal with it,” she said. “To me, it seems it’s being swept under the rug.”

Council President Mike McDowell said he understands her frustration, but the borough can’t just go onto someone’s property and do as it pleases.

Councilwoman Cindy Brice said the borough’s code enforcement officer, Ken Jericho, has sent letters to the property owner, but nothing has been fixed.

“I know we don’t have the right to go on the property, but I think we have gone onto properties where there have been health hazards,” Brice said.

McDowell said in cases like this, all municipalities have their hands tied in a sense.

Burns said she is worried the anxiety over the roaches coupled with the spinal injury could force her to go on disability. When she comes home from surgery, she will be largely incapacitated and has to be careful of infection. The idea of the roaches getting into her home worries her.

She will also consider leaving the borough over the situation, which she doesn’t want to do. Burns did a lot of work to her home to fix it up and likes living in Donora.

“We have to try to get hold of these owners and get something done,” McDowell said. “But we have to go by the letter of the law to do something.”

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