Sidney Residents Protest Living Conditions

“Enough is enough” was the chant Thursday morning when residents of Western Heritage Apartments in Sidney took to the street to present their case.

Residents are complaining of his prices for maintenance services, when work is completed, and long waits for service.

“My toilet has been clogged since Friday,” said Bette Castle.

Castle has lived at Western Heritage Apartments for about six years.

A shower unit was installed in another resident's apartment. She reported a gap in the unit and was reportedly told to use a swimming pool “noodle.” Yet another reported a neighbor smoking — smoking in the apartments is not allowed — and she was given a remedy to prevent her from smelling the smoke. Another resident reported his furnace not working for three months — in the winter.

The complaints and reported lack of follow-through resulted in residents showing their disapproval and seeking public support Thursday with several residents gathering on South 10th Avenue with posters defining their plight.

“There's gotta be some kind of breaking point, and this is it,” Castle said.

The residents say there is no local property manager. The facility is Section 8 housing yet residents get charged $50 for weekend lock-outs and penalized for attempting to fix their apartments. Western Heritage Apartments is listed as a “senior affordable housing community with one bedroom apartment units” Income restrictions are considered as well.

The Western Heritage Apartments are managed by Scottsbluff Housing Authority. The City of Sidney's only role is a member of the city council is on the board of directors.

Nancy Bentley, executive director of Sidney Housing Authority (not affiliated with the Sidney city government. One council member sits on the board of directors), met with Western Heritage residents Thursday, and plans to return Aug. 12. She said the Western Heritage Apartments is a "great place to live." She added they have addressed the issues. She said there were two outstanding work orders. She added residents were notified that because of COVID-19, only emergency work orders would be completed. Workers have been back in the apartments since July 1, she said.

Bentley said the 40-unit location is serviced by Sidney companies when agency maintenance workers are not available or the scope of repair is beyond their ability.

The facility provides homes for elderly and disabled on an income-based scale.