Marshallese group gets 6-month extension from Burke commissioners
Contractor Curt Abee (right) shows Burke Commissioner Mike Stroud a photo of the temporary dwellings he plans to use to house church members while their homes are being renovated.
A group of 60 Marshall Islanders living in a George Hildebrand church will have until Nov. 12 to complete repairs that would make their home safe enough to occupy.
During a special called meeting Monday morning, the Burke Board of Commissioners voted 4-0 to give the group, which consists of nine families, a 6-month extension to bring their living quarters — which have been repeatedly found unsafe by county inspectors — up to code.
A local building contractor and others in the community are stepping up to help.
Contractor Curt Abee, who spoke on behalf of the Marshallese New Beginnings Church Monday, has agreed to do the work and verify $150,000 in funding for the project.
Both Abee and New Beginnings pastor Tommy Liabwij were pleased with the board’s decision. Shortly after the meeting ended, Abee was on his way to obtain a permit to begin electrical work.
Abee said he felt led by God to help the Marshallese.
Abee
“I just felt like they needed some help, and they have limited funds,” Abee said. “Neighbors around there enjoy having them there and feel comfortable with them. And it was just heavy on my heart as a Christian.”
Pointing in the direction of the county administration building next door, he added, “Now, I need to stop over here and get me a permit.”
Liabwij said he was touched by the efforts of Abee and others in the community assisting the church group.
“I feel great, and I thank God for it,” Liabwij said moments after the meeting ended. “He is a good guy. I’m just glad he is doing all this from his heart.”
Monday’s ruling represented a compromise on the part of the board, which had decided at a quasi-judicial hearing April 10 to give the Marshallese church until May 12 to produce an estimate from a certified contractor and proof of a funding source, among other requirements.
Failure to do so would have invoked a previous county order to vacate.
All four board members — commissioner Randy Burns was not present at the previous hearing, so he recused himself from Monday’s meeting — expressed concern for the group’s safety.
They also requested clarification from legal counsel Martha Thompson concerning the level of liability the county would face if unsafe conditions at the church led to injury or illness.
Burke County Commissioners (from left) chair Jeff Brittain, vice chair Phil Smith, and Brian Barrier listen intently while legal counsel Martha Thompson (off camera) explains the county’s liability in the case of the Marshallese New Beginnings Church during Monday’s meeting.
Thompson said since the county does not own the building, there is a “low bar” for liability, meaning the risk to the county is low — much lower than if it allowed the Marshallese to stay under the current conditions.
“From the county’s perspective, if the residents who are now currently living in this structure, knowing what the risk is, choose to remain there while this work is being done, they are assuming the risk, which offsets risk that a county has,” Thompson said. “The contractor becomes the insurer, not the county.”
Commissioner Brian Barrier — seemingly troubled by the possible legal ramifications of allowing the group to stay — said afterward he became convinced during the meeting that granting an extension was the right thing to do.
“Their safety is my big concern, and making sure we follow the law,” Barrier said, adding he isn’t a fan of most government regulations but swore to uphold the law as it is written. “As long as we can be compassionate and still follow the law, I feel great.”
Burke County Chief Inspector Steve Holden answers a question from commissioners during Monday’s meeting.
Chief Inspector Steve Holden testified at the April hearing that he has found dozens of violations over the last three years. The two buildings at the site, a church and an annex, previously housed George Hildebrand Elementary School before the current school was built.
The church building dates back to 1935 and has deteriorated over time. Holden and other inspectors identified a long list of problems with the electrical wiring, heating system, and plumbing.
The county made the church aware of the issues, but the group has not made significant progress in addressing the problems.
Following a condemnation hearing March 21, the county issued an order to vacate the premises by May 20. The group would still be allowed to attend church services, but no one would be allowed to live at the site.
The group appealed that ruling, and the board instituted the May 12 deadline.
Holden said Monday he had met with Abee and Liabwij and was satisfied the plan Abee intends to carry out would satisfy the county’s requirements and keep the occupants safe.
Abee plans to first address wiring concerns in the eight living spaces currently in use, making the electrical system safe for human habitation.
Next, he plans to bring in temporary housing units that can accommodate two families at a time while their apartments can be brought up to code.
Abee said getting the temporary units in place could take several days to a week. In the interim, he plans to do the wiring work, which won’t require residents to move out of their homes.
Previous estimates by the county placed the cost of necessary repairs at $500,000, but Abee hopes to accomplish the task for $150,000. He said he wants to begin work as quickly as possible and stressed the fact this is a bare-bones renovation.
“What we’re trying to do is bring it up to the minimum required,” Abee told the board. “I don’t want you to think it’s going to look like the Holiday Inn, because it’s probably not.”
Marty Queen is the senior reporter. He may be reached at 828-445-8595 or marty@thepaper.media.
