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Pastor: More help needed at Kansas City, Kan., apartment complex with bedbug issues

Property rep says Unified Government approved treatment is underway

Pastor: More help needed at Kansas City, Kan., apartment complex with bedbug issues

Property rep says Unified Government approved treatment is underway

TRACKING SOME ALARMING BEDBUG ISSUES AT SOME APARTMENTS IN KCK. THE UNIFIED GOVERNMENT IS NOW INVOLVED, BUT SOME SAY ANSWERS TO THESE PROBLEMS AREN’T COMING FAST ENOUGH. INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER MATT FLENER SPOKE TO A WOMAN ASKING FOR HELP. WE WANT TO PROVIDE HOPE FOR OUR FRIENDS AT THE VICTORY HILLS APARTMENTS IN KCK. A PINK SIGN SAYS UNFIT AND PROVIDES A NOTICE TO VACATE. MANY OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE STILL HERE DON’T WANT TO MOVE. CINDY BOYER PASTORS THE NEARBY VICTORY HILLS BAPTIST CHURCH. SHE JUST MOVED HER MOTHER OUT OF THE FACILITY AFTER BEDBUGS CAME IN. THESE PEOPLE NEED HELP. THEY NEED THEY NEED TO HAVE NOT JUST THEIR APARTMENTS TREATED, BUT THEY NEED TO HAVE SOMEBODY COME HELP THEM PREPARE THEIR APARTMENT. SO THEY DON’T LOSE THE FEW THINGS THAT THEY HAVE. A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE BUILDING’S OWNER SAYS THEY’RE TAKING ACTION. A REP FROM TWO TERROR SAYING INSPECTIONS FOUND 27 OF 124 UNITS WERE AFFECTED BY BEDBUGS. ALSO SAYING THEY’VE HIRED A THIRD PARTY CLEANING SERVICE TO HELP RESIDENTS CLEAN BEFORE TREATMENT. SO FAR, WE’RE SATISFIED WITH THE LEVEL OF COMMUNIQUE AND WE’RE SATISFIED WITH THE PLAN THAT WAS SET FORTH BY THE PROFESSIONALS IN THIS SITUATION. MEANWHILE, THE UNIFIED GOVERNMENT IS EXTENDED ANY DAY TO VACATE THE PROPERTY UNTIL MARCH 13TH, AS LONG AS MANAGEMENT AND OWNERSHIP CONTINUES TO ABIDE BY THE PLAN SET FORTH BY THE PROFESSIONALS. THEN WE’RE HAPPY WITH THE SITUATION. BUT WE WANT PEOPLE NOT TO JUST FEEL STUCK LIKE NOBODY CARES. BOYER SAYS SHE’S NOT SEEN ENOUGH PEOPLE HELPING AT THE PROPERTY AND WHAT’S QUICKER ACTION. WE NEED HELP. MATT FLENER. KMBC9 NEWS. IF YOU KNOW OF SOMEONE WHO CAN HELP IN THIS SITUATION, YOU CAN CALL THE VICTORY HILLS BAPTIST
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Pastor: More help needed at Kansas City, Kan., apartment complex with bedbug issues

Property rep says Unified Government approved treatment is underway

A pastor is pleading for help for people inside the Victory Hills Apartments near College and Parallel Parkways. Inspectors have deemed the property unfit for occupancy if the bedbug issues are not corrected by March 13th.A representative for the property management company and owner says a vendor supplied and Unified Government approved treatment plan is underway at the facility.But Pastor Cindy Boyer of Victory Hills Baptist Church says she believes residents need help much quicker than weeks from now.“Many of the people that are still here don't want to move,” Boyer said. Boyer said she has seen a moving company cancel a job at the facility due to bedbug issues and transportation companies refuse to take people where they need to go.She just moved her mother from the facility, saying people who remain need help cleaning their apartments to prepare for bedbug treatment. “They need to have somebody come up and prepare their apartments, so they don't lose the few things that they have left,” she said.Matt Kaushal, Executive Vice President of Real Estate with Tutera Commercial Real Estate and Development, says Tutera has hired a third party to help with cleaning if residents are not able to complete the required pretreatment requirements, as outlined by the pest control vendor.“Upon learning of the issues, Victory Hills contracted with a pest control specialist in early December, who has subsequently performed comprehensive inspections of the entire property and commenced treatment on the limited number of units that were affected by this issue,” Kaushal said in an emailed statement.When asked, Kaushal said inspections found 27 of the 124 units in the property were affected by bedbug issues.The facility is formerly a senior living complex and was converted into 2019 to affordable housing.The Unified Government, meanwhile, is working with Tutera on a remediation plan.“So far, we're satisfied with the level of communication, we're satisfied with the plan that was set forth by the professionals in this situation,” said Patrick Holton, Manager of the Unified Government’s Property Maintenance and Compliance Department. “As long as management and ownership continue to abide by the plan set forth by the professionals, then we're happy with the situation.”Boyer says she believes residents inside the facility still need financial assistance and manpower to help. If you would like more information to help with Boyer’s efforts, you can contact Victory Hills Baptist Church at 913-299-0555.

A pastor is pleading for help for people inside the Victory Hills Apartments near College and Parallel Parkways.

Inspectors have deemed the property unfit for occupancy if the bedbug issues are not corrected by March 13th.

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A representative for the property management company and owner says a vendor supplied and Unified Government approved treatment plan is underway at the facility.

But Pastor Cindy Boyer of Victory Hills Baptist Church says she believes residents need help much quicker than weeks from now.

“Many of the people that are still here don't want to move,” Boyer said. Boyer said she has seen a moving company cancel a job at the facility due to bedbug issues and transportation companies refuse to take people where they need to go.

She just moved her mother from the facility, saying people who remain need help cleaning their apartments to prepare for bedbug treatment.

“They need to have somebody come up and prepare their apartments, so they don't lose the few things that they have left,” she said.

Matt Kaushal, Executive Vice President of Real Estate with Tutera Commercial Real Estate and Development, says Tutera has hired a third party to help with cleaning if residents are not able to complete the required pretreatment requirements, as outlined by the pest control vendor.

“Upon learning of the issues, Victory Hills contracted with a pest control specialist in early December, who has subsequently performed comprehensive inspections of the entire property and commenced treatment on the limited number of units that were affected by this issue,” Kaushal said in an emailed statement.

When asked, Kaushal said inspections found 27 of the 124 units in the property were affected by bedbug issues.

The facility is formerly a senior living complex and was converted into 2019 to affordable housing.

The Unified Government, meanwhile, is working with Tutera on a remediation plan.

“So far, we're satisfied with the level of communication, we're satisfied with the plan that was set forth by the professionals in this situation,” said Patrick Holton, Manager of the Unified Government’s Property Maintenance and Compliance Department. “As long as management and ownership continue to abide by the plan set forth by the professionals, then we're happy with the situation.”

Boyer says she believes residents inside the facility still need financial assistance and manpower to help. If you would like more information to help with Boyer’s efforts, you can contact Victory Hills Baptist Church at 913-299-0555.