From: Mandy Beeler- Artspace 
Sent: Sunday, July 11, 2007 10:10 AM
To: Joe Kniss
Subject: RE:City Center Artspace pigeons


Hi Joe,

We do realize what a significant problem the pigeons pose to the building.
I employ a company to come every Friday to clean not only the docks, but the
interior courtyard as well.  This company power washes the front dock, the
interior docks and the interior courtyard.  In addition, we had traps on the
roof all winter, but found that this did not make a noticeable difference in
the pigeon population. We have placed pigeon spikes on the front dock,
directly outside of the main entrance door leading to Kristi's apartment and
are watching to see if that helps.   We have purchased the supplies to net
off the sky lights opening into the courtyards and will be working on that
project in the coming weeks.  It has come to our attention that you took it
upon yourself to place netting on the skylights over the weekend.  The
access to the roof is secure and you should not have been able to access it.
This must be removed immediately.  I understand that you did this with the
best interest of Kristi in mind, but the owner of the building is very
upset, and would like us to press trespassing as well as vandalism charges
against you.  This will not happen, as I realize that you were only trying
to help, but we need to make it clear that you did not have permission and
should not have taken it upon yourself to net off the skylights.

Looking for solutions for the pigeon problem has been a long process that we
address every week.  We have spoken to everyone from the health department
to critter removal services to the company that maintains the capital
building.  Netting off the skylights was presented to us as a short term
solution as it is expected that the birds will quickly learn how to bypass
the skylight opening and come in the large opening at the West end of the
courtyards.  The spikes that we put up on the front dock were not only very
expensive, but do not seem to be making a large impact there either.

I am sure that moving during an illness would be very difficult, but wanted
to make sure that you knew that we would be more than happy to release
Kristi from her lease if that is what she needs.  I assure you that we are
addressing this situation for all tenants to be able to enjoy the outside
living spaces provided at City Center.

 

If you have any questions regarding this, please feel free to call or email
me.

 

Mandy Beeler

Property Manager

Artspace City Center/Artspace Bridge Projects

801-364-1019



From: Joe Michael Kniss [mailto:xxx]
Sent: Sunday, July 08, 2007 2:24 PM
To: selrsart@sisna.com; Kristi Potter; selrsarttr@sisna.com; selrscpw@sisna.com
Subject: City Center Artspace pigeons

 

Hello,

  My name is Joe Kniss, I am currently caregiver for Kristi Potter,
  xxx City Center Lofts.  As you may or may not know, the City Center
  lofts have a major pigeon problem.  I have worked very hard to
  discourage them from nesting inside the courtyard using a squirt
  gun.  Unfortunately 1 or 2 days absent they return.  Pigeons pose a
  significant health risk for even healthy people.  I have begun to
  notice mites in the areas that they inhabit.  Kristi has Leukemia
  and is currently being treated.  Right now she is completing a
  second round of Chemotherapy which leaves her with effectively no
  immune system.  She has previously been sent to the hospital with
  infections that I suspect are due to the unsanitary conditions
  around her apartment.  In about 3 weeks, Kristi will go in for a
  bone marrow transplant that will return her home with an even more
  compromised immune system.  I believe that the pigeon problem can be
  fixed with a simple netting around the skylights in each bay and the
  open east end of the complex.  I would be happy to do this myself if
  roof access can be gained.  I also feel that a *thorough* cleanup of
  the interior courtyard is needed.  The west bay is completely
  unusable to all tenants, much less Mrs. Potter.  I encourage you to
  take action, not just for Kristi, but for other tenants and the
  general public which appears once a month for the Artwalk.  I have
  already eliminated one nest at risk of personal injury, there is at
  least one new one in the last week.

Thanks for your careful consideration of this health problem.  Please
let me know if and when action will be taken.
Joe Kniss