Kip Schoning's Bula Enterprises in News Again
Another story on Kip Schoning's Bula Enterprises graces the Gazette Times newspaper. The article discusses a woman in Sweet Home unfortunate enough to rent a Schoning house. The issue at hand is tenant vs. landlord - if the landlord is responsible for the maintenance of the home, how can the tenant be responsible for charges due to the lack thereof? A horrible water leak has left the woman with a $900 water bill and her inability to pay both water bill and rent. With the leak still not fixed by the landlord and owner, Bula, she opts to not pay her rent as an act of defiance. This landed her in eviction court.
A bigger question has to do with the city allowing the woman to turn her water on and off from the street in order to use water. Health and safety of the water system places strict regulations on any facet or pipe that attaches to a municipal water system. This is because organisms can leak back into the system causing others to get sick. I would imagine a gaping hole in a main water line to a house to be such a case - yet the city has not taken action. There is a potential that under state law, now that the city knows about it that they will have to suspend her water supply or fix it.
The interesting part of the article states:
Kelly Johnson of Sixpoint Plumbing inspected the property and confirmed that there was a break in the water main between the meter and Huffman’s rented house, with the water apparently pooling somewhere underground. He said he was waiting for word from Bula owner Kip Schoning on whether to begin repairs.
I certainly hope the city of Sweet Home doesn't allow this to drag on as it may well be that they will need to act on this case or face consequences from the state. As an extension of this issue, it would be wise for the city of Corvallis, home of many neglected Bula homes, to make a policy of how to deal with a likewise situation sure to happen in the future.