VA report shows needs of veterans met at boardinghouse, but building's appearance a question mark

By Mark Wineka

mwineka@salisburypost.com

Inspection reports from the Veterans Administration credit owner Jim Tonseth with providing "top quality" care for the residents of his boardinghouse at 432 Park Ave.

But they continually note concerns about the outside appearance of the veterans' boardinghouse and, on occasion, cite cleanliness and repair issues inside.

It's the boardinghouse's rundown look from the exterior that has drawn criticism from Tonseth's neighbors and frequent inspections by city code enforcement officers.

Fire and safety inspections from the VA generally have found Tonseth in compliance, however.

When discrepancies have been noted, Tonseth appears to have addressed the issues to the VA's satisfaction.

The boardinghouse is inspected annually under the "existing small board and care home" category by a team of Hefner VA staff members representing social work, nursing, fire and safety and nutrition disciplines.

Tonseth is a sponsor for the Community Residential Care Home program, and the eight veterans now living in his boardinghouse have a private pay arrangement with him.

The Hefner VA Medical Center Social Work service provides case management for the veterans in Tonseth's home. Otherwise, Tonseth ensures they have a place to live, are fed, attend their medical appointments, take their medications and are generally well cared for.

Under the Freedom of Information Act, the Post requested inspection reports of the boardinghouse from the past five years.

The VA supplied reports from 2004, 2006 and 2007.

"There are no inspection reports for the years 2003 and 2005," said Terry Hughley, privacy and FOIA officer at the Salisbury VA. "However, all disclosures which would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy have been withheld."

Richard Turner, a social work inspector, wrote in his Feb. 15, 2006, report that Tonseth "provides some of the best one-on-one personal care in the entire (Community Residential Care) program."

"However," Turner added, "the dilapidated building the veterans live in continues to be a sore point.

"Jim maintains the building by keeping it clean and making repairs as needed, but it still looks bad especially from the outside. None of the veterans residing there have any complaints about the building, and everyone is happy with the service."

Under the heading of "needs improvement" in the same report, the inspector noted problems with the yard and exterior appearance. The nutritionist cited no problems.

Kenny S. Anderson, a registered nurse, noted cleanliness and repair problems with the veterans' sleeping area, a bathroom and "walls/floors/ furniture."

Anderson added a handwritten notation: "Entire house is in bad shape. Needs extensive repairs throughout. Temperature below 56 degrees throughout house. House dirty throughout with smell of urine in pv's room."

Safety Manager Lynn Treece conducted a fire and safety inspection at the same time and recommended only that Tonseth check the slots in a stairwell railing because "some of them look like they are coming loose."

A second inspection was done in the fall of 2006.

Again, Turner noted the exterior of the house was not well-maintained. He said Tonseth "continues to provide top quality care to our veterans."

"The appearance of his home remains his only shortcoming, even though it is structurally sound," Turner added. "He maintains a clean and safe environment, and his personal attention to the needs of veterans is unsurpassed."

Turner added that Tonseth worked closely with VA case managers "to prevent problems from occurring."

"There are no significant issues or problems with his home at this time," Turner added.

But in September 2006, Anderson again cited problems with the cleanliness and repair of sleeping areas, a bathroom and walls, floors and furniture. He would cite the same issues in November 2007 with the notation, "needs cleaning and new furniture throughout the house."

In 2007, social work inspector Thompson Lester said the home's yard was "unsatisfactory," and the house's exterior, sidewalks and cleanliness of individual rooms needed improvement.

Treece's fire and safety inspection for the VA said a key for an upstairs bathroom could not be found. Every bathroom door is supposed to be designed to let someone unlock it from the outside during an emergency.

Tonseth says a key is now provided for that door.

A back exit also needed to be cleared of a hose, so there would be no obstacles in case an evacuation was necessary in an emergency. Tonseth says he took care of that obstruction.

Treece said ashtrays in designated smoking areas needed to be emptied out, and a broken window pane had to be replaced. Both were accomplished, according to Tonseth.

Treece also recommended new furniture to replace the existing furnishings. Tonseth says that has happened.

Reacting to a petition from neighbors about the boardinghouse's appearance, city code enforcement officers recently paid another visit to Tonseth's property.

Jeff Youngblood, minimum housing inspector for the Fire Department, says Tonseth was asked to take care of a clogged gutter in front of the house. Its condition could have easily led to a water problem, Youngblood said.

Tonseth has removed the gutter.

Youngblood also gave Tonseth 90 days to repair holes in exterior walls, foundation and boxing.

A city fire inspector asked Tonseth to remove firewood and all the trash and debris from around the home. Tires also were to be removed from a storage building or garage in back. Youngblood said the dilapidated roof of that building already had been taken off from a prior inspection. The remaining walls appear sound, he said.

Jeff Benfield, who handles nuisance abatement for the city, instructed Tonseth to take care of overgrown vegetation. "He did a good job in what I asked him to do," Benfield said Thursday.

Tonseth says he will be taking care of the exterior repairs by replacing a lot of the wood. He promised that the house also will be painted in the near future. He says it's a guarantee that the outside of the house will look better.

As for the paint colors he expects to use, Tonseth says only that it will be "oriented toward the military" and spine-tingling, whimsical and "pee-in-your-pants exciting."

He borrowed "spine-ting-ling" and "whimsical" from how Historic Salisbury Foundation Managing Director Jack Thomson described elements of the 1903 Victorian in an earlier story.

Tonseth said he was surprised by the positive reaction and concern for his veterans that surfaced after the Post's previous story.

"The outpouring of support has been absolutely mind-blowing," he said. "... It's been staggering."

Numerous people have volunteered to help with sprucing up the home, he says, but most of what's left involves painting. He anticipates using spray guns and says "we can take care of most of it ourselves."

Tonseth says the city code officers have been "absolutely stellar" to work with and appear to be following the letter of the law.