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Investigation has Lawmaker Trying to Help Owners of Meth Homes
July 26, 2007 * Debbie Dujanovic Reporting
 It's been a hot summer for all of us, but for the Alkinani's it's the worst one on record. In May our test results confirmed meth contamination inside the family home, a home Salt Lake County had declared all cleaned up. The family moved out, and the county dug in. Now the mess is heading to court, and Capitol Hill is weighing in.
The red "keep out" sign has been faded by the sun. The yard is toast. For the Alkinani family the summer of '07 will go down as "a nightmare, it's been terrible."
In May our meth tests confirmed their home and backyard shed are contaminated with meth. Further tests showed there's major amounts of meth in the home's ventilation system. They've been homeless since.
When they bought the house the Alkinani's had no idea the home and the shed were once used as meth labs. When they found out, Salt Lake County assured them it had been properly decontaminated. It was even in writing.
Cleaned and cleared once, now the county says the Alkinani's must pay to clean it up again.
Jaimee Al-Kinani says, "The minimum we're talking is about $30,000."
In a letter the county claimed it's not liable. So the Alkinani's have filed suit against the clean-up company and Salt Lake County. The lawsuit claims the Salt Lake Valley Health Department put the family at risk by letting a contaminated appliance stay in the home, not making sure the ventilation system was decontaminated and allowing the shed to stay put. Our tests show there's still meth residue in that shed.
Rep. Paul Ray says, "If you look at what's really right, if you look at the integrity of the issue, they messed up."
In light of the Alkinani's case, Rep. Ray and other lawmakers are now considering new state laws for meth homes. "I'm hoping to see a process set up where every home is safe," Ray said.
On his list:
- define the meaning of clean for health departments;
- more funding for home cleanup programs;
- possibly change real estate disclosure rules, so people who buy meth homes are told.
Plus, he's on a crusade of his own, soliciting private donations to help pay for the Alkinani's cleanup. "I'm very concerned about what happened. If we have to get volunteers to clean up a home, to keep them from losing their home, then somebody in county government dropped the ball," he said.
As for the lawsuit, the cleanup company says it's fighting it. Salt Lake County, won't comment on it, but says it supports changes in laws, including requiring the disclosure of a home's history.
Gary Edwards, with the Salt Lake Valley Health Department, said, "If somebody is looking at a piece of property and was able to at least have a statement in front of them, that since this property went on the market, a test was done and there's no signs of meth or there were signs and it was cleaned up."
There's another twist to this story for the Alkinani family. They got a bill telling them to pay Salt Lake County $600. It's the county fee to oversee the new cleanup. We asked the county about it. They said it went out by mistake and have now waived the fee. |
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RESPONSES
As a society I think we should be able to help BOTH deal with the meth contamination problem. Maybe it's time to put the convicted meth dealers to work cleaning up their own messes as part of their sentence. |
| What an excellant idea! Teach these scum real work, make 'em pull down the sheet rock and pull out the HVAC systems so they can see some of the damage that they have done to others. The poor people that are out of a home to say nothing of those that are living in homes that have been meth houses and it is never brought to light.
Meth is rapidly bringing our society to it's knees and all weapons need to be pulled to fight it.
I wonder if there are any lawmakers or correction officials that have the nads to take such an action? |
| I would go even further in saying that the thousands of dollars seized in meth busts should go toward helping out these home owners. Take their drug money, and put them to work cleaning up these homes. |
I have no idea who voted "troll" on this but they can't have understood your comment!
There are police officers fighting cancer due to meth exposure here in this very state, TWO lost their lives last year from cancer due to job-related meth exposure, and the Utah legislature has not helped any of them. Their deaths were not considered "in the line of duty" so their survivors get none of the benefits they would have gotten if the officers had been shot and killed on the job, but they are just as dead.
These poor homeowners need help, yes, but so do the cops who put their lives and health on the line every single day, fighting what the rest of us fear!
Come on, Utah, step up and help the cops AND the other people victimized by this horrible drug!
Oh, I forgot, drugs are non-violent crimes, so the people who caused this (according to the Salt Lake County Council) should have "alternatives to incarceration" instead of being tossed in jail. My bad. |
Don't police officers have a state health insurance plan? If anyone knows their job is risky it is a police. It is the price you pay to wield the power of the badge.
People die of cancer every day... from everything from the sun to nuclear tests our own government has conducted. So I'm not crying for a few cops.
The real story here is the county burdening a family with fees that they pulled out of their arse. The county feels they can do sub-par work then come back and tell you pay for the actual work, that they haven't done yet. |
It amazes me that American Citizens expect so much from their government. I wish we had much less government involvement. Why should we need our government to fix any homes? It is like building a house again and again where Mother Nature tears it down. Why should our tax dollars pay for this insanity? I pay $185 for drug tests on each home I look into purchasing. If it positive for a hazardous drug, I won't buy it. I also let the home owner and Real Estate agent know the outcome. They are stuck with it. I could even go another step forward and report the hazard to our government agencies that protect us. I have saved them from having to go there into the chemical spill. It amazes me that usually nothing is done to the home and someone else will buy it and move in.
As for the cops getting poisoned. That sucks bad and we should give them every bit of support and monies they need and raise their families. In my eyes our police force is no different than our military and should receive the same benefits. |
| Chris, you are a jerk. It is because of the government that this family's health has been endangered. Comsumers in Utah whether it be food, medicine, services, or realestate have no protections. Businesses are protected from consumers and the conusmers right to fair and honest businesses. Just because you tested these homes and told the realestate agent doesn't mean a thing. The agent just ignored you and tossed your findings. They don't have to report any such problems to buyers. The health department condemened the home to begin with and without followup tests to insure its safety released it back on to the market. There is no way a buyer can research these properties for health hazards and standards are not sufficient for anyones safety, even yours. |
| The county knew it was a meth house and told the people they cleaned it up. But they hired a company that did not do it's job correctly. The county and the company should be responsible for the false advertising and the misleading statements. If the county doesn't want to be responsible for cleaning the house, then they should sell it for super cheap so they can get rid of it and some one else can afford to clean it up or tear it down to rebuild. But the fact that it was a meth house should always be fully disclosed. and you shouldn't have to have the test done. It should be fully disclosed. Always. |
| But you should know that no one was hired
to clean up this house, I know because I ahve watched this house for years, There was NO COMPANY, they allowed the family to clean it up
PERIOD, when they say a company cleaned it up it infuriates me. because never not once did any company come in the only thing the family did was wash down some walls and take the carpet out of the basement.
That is it
unfortunatley the legislators dropped the ball on the full disclosure sometime ago because the Real Estate Agents cried about how it was going to affect there ability to sell homes
BOTTOM LINE... ALL ABOUT COMMISSION "Money" |
| All I can say is I can't belioeve that even came out of your keyboard, you are a true meathead. |
His/her comment used sarcasm to wonder why the poor homeowners in this case are getting help and media attention, while cops are dying--every day--from job related meth exposure and nothing is being done to help them.
Both groups should have help, and the meth cooks who caused this problem should be held liable. Not that it will ever happen. |
| Any and all the homes that have ever been condemed as meth labs should be undergoing some serious scrutinity. The health department should be held liable for their inactions and endangering the lives of home buyers. I'm sure the realestate agent must be seeking exams for any health related issues just walking through the contaminated homes. Because the health department and the cleanup company did not do a proper cleaning and an irresponsible health department has endangered this family. They are sure to be future victims of more health problems because of the inadeuacy in a government agency that feels no responsibility to the heatlh of consumers. If this cleanup company gets $30000 per cleanup, what does the cleanup mean and include? Paint the walls and vacume the carpets? Falsify documents of completion and established procedures of cleanup? Sounds like this company found a way to scam the health department and property owners. They should have their license revoked and restitution to the new homeowners and the health department workers forced to do the cleanup. |
| removing all interior walls, that are contaminated and putting up new walls, tearing out all carpet, putting new carpet, replacing all the air ducts and ventilation systems to name a few. then you will see the bill rise very quickly. |
that people have given the government permission to tell them what is clean and what is not. When the government errs, there is no one responsible and the government is able to dodge any responsibility that was given.
The solution is to hold the government responsible for the decisions, judgements and permits that it issues. By government, I refer to individuals. We do it with companies, we can do it with governments. Back in the bad old days, when I worked for government, I asked why certain incompetent employees could not be held responsible for their actions. Other than the merit system, the union and all that jazz, it boiled down to the management believing that no one would take a government job if they could actually get fired from it. Do you believe that? I don't.
Legislators, wake up and smell the corruption. It is time to remove bureaucrats off "kings X" and hold government people responsible for their decisions. If they don't want the responsibility or if the responsibility is too great, take away the permitting power and let the people make their own decisions at their own risk. It makes little sense to have a government agency dispense judgements that a property is clean of contamination if the agency is not held responsible for making the judgement. |
You hit it on the head. Very well said. I am so sick of government being able to flex their muscle at zero accountability. Some say the vote is accountability but that's BS and most of those in office are aware of it. So much happens behind closed doors and politicians and school administrators are allowed to abuse their authority at will.
Sorry I got off on a bit of a tangent but it's Givems fault for igniting that in me. JK ;) |
Perhaps my expectations of them are too high, I'm not sure. But this couple has two children, too!
I also think about the children of the selfish idiots who concoct these drugs in their HOMES, are THEIR children now dying of toxic poisoning?
Are the "parents" charged for attempted...manslaughter, at least? |
First of all, there needs to be a serious reform in terms of disclosure. Home buyers have a right to be informed if their home was used as a meth lab, and if they did, then they could opt to add an additional inspection to the home, making sure it was actually clean, prior to purchase.
And the new homeowners being responsible for the $30K+ to clean it up? That's even MORE ridiculous. Send the bill to the people who were making the meth in the first place. Garnish their wages and tax returns, make them responsible for their own actions.
And if not, the city is STILL to blame because they declared the home clean when it was in fact, not clean.
This story leaves me feeling angry and frustrated, and scared to buy another home. |
| i completly agree with you and think it should be required to let us, as home buyers, to know if it was a meth lab even if it was cleaned because i would never buy a home that was a meth lab even if it was cleaned |
Sounds to me like the clean up company has a thing going. Charge the sellers to "clean" it the first time...Cha ching 30K.
Make the fact that it was a drug house invisible to buyers thanks to some friends in the county declaring it clean and erasing the fact it was a drug house from the public records. It sells as a clean house.
After the buyers move in and find out from the new neighbors or when they start getting sick, they test it, it isn't clean and they kick the new buyers out and charge them to "clean" it again... Cha Ching, another 30K.
Sounds like it's a pretty sweet deal for them to collect from both ends. To someone with no scruples, pretty good deal right?
From thier response they don't sound very repentant. They have a screw-you give us money or we won't let you go home, response. Nothing to stop them and they could care less. Sounds pretty crooked to me.
They should stand behind the work they did and do it the second time for FREE. They would if they had any moral integrity AT ALL. They didn't do the job, they shouldn't get paid. |
| I found a new investment!!!! Buying meth houses for "pennies on the dollar" and have the government clean them up and then turn around and sell them for big profit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
It would be interesting to see if the people who buy these houses and resell them have any connection to the cleaning company.
Buy low, "clean", erase history, sell high, have the county kick them out, foreclosure because they can't afford to clean it (did they charge the sellers 30k to clean it?), buy low, "clean" again, erase history, sell high....sounds like a profitable investment circle. The meth-house trap. Has anyone looked into that? |
It's simple! If the home was bought through a "REALTOR" then by LAW it should have been disclosed to the buyer that this was a Meth House. Any Judge will award the homeowners, and the Real Estate Agent and his Broker will loose in court. It's high time to make everyone accountable to us homebuyers. They tell us that's why they get paid the BIG BUCKS because they are the educated ones, and looking out for "your interest"??
Sue the pants off of them!! Save taxpayers some money! |
I know this family. Jaimee is the daughter of a very good friend of mine. Even with all of this turmoil, stress and expense they are doing remarkably well. They are a very humble, loving family who only wanted to get into a new house to raise their two young children. Also, this was their very FIRST adventure in the home-buying world. Needless to say, it's left them jaded and more than a little disheartened. But as I said before, they have the support of friends, family and the community and are doing reasonably well...all things considered.
One good thing: Jaimee's mom (my friend) happened to be in the process of selling her home. Jaimee and her husband were able to qualify for it and buy it instead. At least they know they can trust the quality and condition of this house, as her mother has lived in it for the past 20 years.
I hope that whomever is responsible for this entire fiasco is dragged into the spotlight and made to make ammends for their shoddy, irresponsible "work." |
| Is there anything that the general public can do for this family? Do they need anything that can be donated, or need help? Such a sad story,makes you wonder how many other people are presently living in homes like this and don't know it. Best wishes to the family!! |
What about the real problem of the rapidly growing addiction to Meth in our community. Methamphetamine is such a heinous drug, we need to be educating more people about this drug, and the REAL LIFE consequences it has on our community. Did you know that among the users of Meth a good majority of them are housewife’s??? They do it because it keeps you high for long periods of time. It keeps your appetite suppressed so they can remain thin (which is a whole other issue these days). To me this speaks more about our society.
Start educating early. Meth is a serious drug that will steal your soul. I have seen it first hand. Wonderful people are transformed in to disgusting monsters. It is one of the saddest / serious drugs out there. |
| Kudos to Rep. Paul Ray for helping them. He definitely deserves reelection. If Ray's a Democrat, then, disregard this posting. |
| In this article they keep referring to "the cleanup company". They should disclose what the cleanup company's name is so that people are aware and won't use that company to "clean" such property in the future. Just a thought. |
| if the price is VERY CHEAP ...........BEWARE............ask questions ........find out why |
The dealers, and lab makers need to be prosecuted to the fullest. I have no pity for them.
The family needs assistance so they can survive this huge mess.
I hope the first responders police and fire personnel are healthy also after the exposure to the lab.
The laws need to be tightened on real estate transactions so that the disclosure is done. I find it hard to believe that they are not also liable.
The real estate broker needs to be scrutinized on this transaction? I do not buy the fact that they were not aware, they should be legally accountable.
I hope someone will volunteer free legal or low cost legal to this poor innocent family.
May God Bless! |
How do you know if the meth contamination is from the old tenants or the new ones?
Just curious. I'm not accusing anyone of anything. But I noticed in an article written by the Salt lake tribune said that some of the homeowners who were offered to have their home re-tested for meth had declined the offer. Now why would they decline this offer? |
| If they (the State of Utah) claim that they hired someone to come in and clean the house up then give it a clean bill of health, well it seems the job wasnt done. So 1 of 2 things should be happening...The State needs to back up their claim with a invoice or bill then the State needs to go after the so called company that came in and have them take care of the prob. Then the family needs to be compensated for time spent elsewhere. If they (the state)doesnt want to foot the bill, tear down the house, clean it up and sell the lot so someone can build their own house there... |
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