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CARROLLWOOD - To the casual observer, the troubled Four Oaks community is a mishmash of well-maintained lots along with tattered mobile homes, junk piles and crumbling houses.
But beyond the unsightly accumulation of debris, the inoperable cars and the unsanitary living conditions, some people here are on the edge of poverty, struggling to meet their basic needs, while others are trying to overcome unfortunate circumstances.
Following a neighborhood crackdown by Hillsborough County code enforcement officers, a county special hearing master on Friday listened to several residents' tales of hardship.
"I'm disabled, living on Social Security disability of $835 a month," Richard Kaminsky said. Among other things, Kaminsky was cited for having inoperable cars and a broken septic tank leaking raw sewage on the ground.
Kaminsky told Michael Eurich, the special hearing master, that the septic tank is being fixed and that all five cars on his property work. Eurich told Kaminsky he would send code officers to his home this week to verify his claims.
"What I'm looking at is physical and financial disabilities, but at the same time, I have public health issues (to consider)," Eurich said.
Kaminsky was one of seven Four Oaks residents who were scheduled to appear Friday before the hearing master. Code enforcement supervisor Jim Blinck said his office had received repeated complaints about these offenders from other residents.
"I commend your inspectors for going out in this neighborhood," Eurich told Blinck. "They've been cleaning house."
Blinck said one of the Four Oaks homeowners who was cited had complied with the citation before the hearing. Two other homeowners pleaded guilty and said they would comply with the county's minimum standards within 30 days.
Eurich refused to hear Shari Keller argue a case because, although Keller says she has lived at 12312 Pittsfield Ave. for 10 years, she's not the owner of record. Keller says the owner of the property, Richard Orr, died three years ago.
"I've had trouble getting the property turned over to my name," Keller said. The property was cited for accumulation of junk, vehicle parts, open outside storage and improper commercial use.
Katheryn Sears told Eurich she hasn't lived at 5106 Adams St. since 1991. Although Sears is still listed as the owner, she says her daughter and her daughter's husband live at the house. Sears, who lives in Seffner, says she cannot clean the junk or fix up the house because she's afraid to go near the place.
"They have threatened my life if I even come on the property," Sears told Eurich. Sears says she wants to transfer the house title to her daughter's name so that she will no longer be liable for code violations.
Eurich sympathized with Sears. He took no action and continued the case until the next hearing on Jan. 16. "Hopefully by then, you'll have gotten some control," Eurich said, suggesting that sheriff's deputies might eventually be needed.
Everett Ferreira told Eurich he is renting out his house at 5223 Timberlan St. to a tenant and was not aware of the code violations until last month. Code officers say the property is junked up with trash and an inoperable vehicle.
Ferreira, who is in a wheelchair, has 14 days to get the place cleaned up or he'll face daily fines of $75.
"I've never been a landlord before and apparently I'm not a good one because I don't check that often," Ferreira said after the hearing. "I didn't know anything about this . . . I had no idea they weren't meeting with code enforcement or working things out."
- Tim Grant can be reached at 269-5311 or at grant@sptimes.com