MOUNT VERNON — The ongoing saga of the solid waste nuisance at 11337 Armentrout Road in Berlin Township has come closer to resolution, according to Knox County Board of Health Commissioner Dennis Murray.

At the board of health meeting Wednesday, Murray reported that Assistant Prosecutor Jennifer Springer has been in contact with Brian Barger, the attorney for property owner David Proper. According to Murray, Barger told Springer that Proper had determined five items he wanted to keep, and that Proper had hired Mid-State Waste to remove the rest of the items. Mark Phillips, owner of Mid-State, said he would have to wait for dry weather to go in and remove the items.

The board also considered a request by the Howard Township Board of Trustees to declare a mobile home located at 25189 Weber Road unfit for human habitation so the township can require the owner to remove or repair the structure. The mobile home is owned by Sandra Dee Hammons. Joe Hammons, Sandra’s husband, attended Wednesday’s meeting, and told the board the structure is unoccupied and only used for storage. He said he had no problem with removing the structure or securing it by boarding up the windows and securing the roof, but the trustees told him he could not replace it with another mobile home he had purchased because the lot was less than five acres. Hammons told the board he felt frustrated with the trustees’ attitude, and said they refused to discuss the matter with him.

The board determined that by condemning the structure it would force the trustees to deal with Hammons, which Hammons said satisfied him. The board approved the condemnation.

In other business the board:

•Renewed a contract with CHC Software for computer software maintenance.

•Renewed a personal services contract for dental hygiene services with Amy Schuman.

•Learned that Murray met with local nursing home administrators and administrative staff at Knox Community Hospital to discuss the availability of H1N1 vaccine for residents and staff at nursing homes.

•Learned that H1N1 vaccine clinics were held at The Station Break, Fredericktown Senior Center, Danville Community Center and Country Court Nursing Center in January.

•Learned that H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccines are still available on a walk-in basis at the board of health’s medical clinic.