Jun 22, 2010 By Patty Yauger 3 min read

Connellsville property owner fined for not following order CONNELLSVILLE – A Connellsville property owner was fined $500 Monday for not adhering to a judge’s order for him to repair his house on Witter Avenue or tear it down.

John Enold, who, along with his aunt, Eva White, own the property, told Magisterial District Judge Ronald Haggerty that while he was aware of the specifics of the order given to him last month, he believed his efforts and financial resources were better directed to another part of the house.

“This was more important,” Enold said of his work on the exterior rear side of the house.

In February, the Connellsville Health Board directed Enold to demolish the house.

However, the owners ignored the order, putting the matter in the hands of the local court.

During a hearing held in May, Haggerty gave the owners 30 days to install siding on two sections of the house, begin reconstruction work on the front of the house and install four doors.

City health officer Tom Currey testified that during a recent inspection the work ordered to be done had not been completed.

“There were no visible signs that any work had been done,” he said. “Except that the wood had been taken off the back of the house and that now opens it up to infestation.”

As Haggerty reviewed pictures of the condition of the rear of the house presented by Enold, he questioned why he did not comply with the original work schedule.

“I ran into major problems,” he responded. “It’s terrible. This was more important than making it aesthetically presentable.”

Haggerty disagreed.

“Sounds like tearing it down and starting over would be a better idea,” he said. “You might want to get the new materials out of the house and cut your losses.”

Enold said because of the financial investment in the house he is unable to halt the rehabilitation work.

“I want to sell the house someday,” he said. “I can’t tear it down, there is too much involved.”

Enold said that he would pay the fine. However, Currey said that the payment would not absolve him from complying with the health board directive.

“He is responsible for tearing it down,” he said. “We’ll likely be here next month because if he doesn’t have it torn down, I’m going to write him another ticket.”

The property was first deemed unfit for human habitation in 1999, with the matter in court several times, according to Health Department records.

The property was inspected by Currey in July and cited for several property maintenance code violations.

Haggerty, meanwhile, dismissed the citations brought against White in the matter, noting that she was unable to make the repairs.