Code Enforcement Officer Reviews Property Deemed Unsafe By City
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Jennifer [email protected]
The property at 1405 Ranch Road is owned by Donna Shaffer, and has been vacant since 2007. Shaffer now lives in Fort Wayne with her husband, Mark.
After hearing testimony from Building Commissioner Todd Slabaugh, Shaffer and concerned neighbors, Clifford reset the hearing for July 15 at 1:30 p.m. at city hall. The 30 days is to allow Shaffer to secure funding and assistance in clean up and develop a plan with a time frame to clean up the property.
Clifford said he will mail a written order of finding of fact to Donna at her Fort Wayne home.
He said it is likely during the July hearing that Shaffer will be required to post a cash performance bond. The bond allows a homeowner to take additional days to make repairs to the property, but are required to post a bond to guarantee the job gets done.
A $5,000 civil penalty also could be imposed at that time.
“The news I want to give you is that the city is extremely serious about this and you need to get on the bus and get something done and not just talk about the possibilities of it,” Clifford said.
Following Monday’s hearing, Clifford and Slabaugh did an interior and exterior site inspection of the home. There was insulation hanging from the ceiling of the interior of the home in the living room, a tarp on the roof to prevent water leakage, and trash on the kitchen floor and counterspace.
Slabaugh said the property has been unsafe since 2011 and there was an incident with water lines bursting inside the home. Slabaugh showed 16 photos taken in May during the hearing of the property that showed high grass and insulation fallen from the ceiling.
Slabaugh said it looked like the interior of the home had been ransacked possibly by vermin.
The city sent letters to Shaffer dated Nov. 17, 2011, and May 15, 2013.
The November letter stated the city found the following violations and deficiencies at the Ranch Road residence: The residence has no electrical service and water, water lines are frozen and burst, the home was ransacked by what appears to be possibly raccoons, and the sewer has not been and cannot be used until corrections have been made.
The letter dated May 15 states the city building and planning department continues to receive complaints about the condition of the property. Complaints include tall grass on the property.
Additionally there has been a tarp put on the roof, and continued complaints of vermin by neighbors.
Slabaugh posted a letter on the residence door in November 2011 that states it is unsafe and not to be entered.
Donna and her husband attended Monday’s hearing showing up 10 minutes late and stating they did not know where the new city hall was located. Donna said she has not had the money to make repairs to the home. She said she cleans homes for a living and visits the Ranch Road home twice a month.
“The house has severe plumbing issues in the floor with the pipes in the kitchen,” Donna said.
She said her ex husband has not paid child support, and she has struggled to raise two honors students and has not had the funds to fix the home. She also said she has health problems with arthritis as well as heart problems.
Slabaugh said he estimated it would take $35,000 to $40,000 to bring the property up to code.
Slabaugh presented to Clifford a petition from concerned residents with 12 signatures requesting the property be brought up to code or demolished.
“You’ve put the city, my department and me in a bad position because I’ve seen this get worse, not better, and that’s the reason we’ve come to this point,” Slabaugh said.
Five residents attended Monday’s hearing to express their concerns with the home.
Nancy Stover, 1401 Ranch Road, said she had concerns with Donna’s home causing neighbors’ property values to decrease.
Cindy Justice, 1408 Ranch Road, who lives across the street from the property, provided photos of the exterior during the hearing that showed tall grass and a tarp on the roof.
“I’m tired of looking at this dilapidated home. I want it brought up to code or removed,” Justice said.
Michael Alspaugh, 1502 Ranch Road, who lives six houses down from the dilapidated property, said he is serving in an advisory position to Shaffer. Alspaugh said he is a licensed general contractor in California and has 30 years experience in residential remodeling. He first brought up the issue of the home at Warsaw City Council’s May 20 meeting.
During Monday’s hearing, Alspaugh said the home can be repaired, but is a matter of organization and money.
“Once you fix the roof, plumbing, drywall, and install new carpet, that house would be liveable again,” Alspaugh said.
Alspaugh said the home’s furniture needs to be removed so there is access inside the home. The home has trash inside such as old bottles and recyclables that needs to be removed using a large dumpster, he said.
He also said ceiling insulation inside the home needs to be removed, sheet rock needs to be installed, and new drain pipes need to be installed in the kitchen.
Alspaugh said there also is a possibility there might be asbestos in the home that would cost $10,000 to $15,000 to remove.
He suggested United Way Day Of Caring volunteers could help with removing debris in the home.
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The property at 1405 Ranch Road is owned by Donna Shaffer, and has been vacant since 2007. Shaffer now lives in Fort Wayne with her husband, Mark.
After hearing testimony from Building Commissioner Todd Slabaugh, Shaffer and concerned neighbors, Clifford reset the hearing for July 15 at 1:30 p.m. at city hall. The 30 days is to allow Shaffer to secure funding and assistance in clean up and develop a plan with a time frame to clean up the property.
Clifford said he will mail a written order of finding of fact to Donna at her Fort Wayne home.
He said it is likely during the July hearing that Shaffer will be required to post a cash performance bond. The bond allows a homeowner to take additional days to make repairs to the property, but are required to post a bond to guarantee the job gets done.
A $5,000 civil penalty also could be imposed at that time.
“The news I want to give you is that the city is extremely serious about this and you need to get on the bus and get something done and not just talk about the possibilities of it,” Clifford said.
Following Monday’s hearing, Clifford and Slabaugh did an interior and exterior site inspection of the home. There was insulation hanging from the ceiling of the interior of the home in the living room, a tarp on the roof to prevent water leakage, and trash on the kitchen floor and counterspace.
Slabaugh said the property has been unsafe since 2011 and there was an incident with water lines bursting inside the home. Slabaugh showed 16 photos taken in May during the hearing of the property that showed high grass and insulation fallen from the ceiling.
Slabaugh said it looked like the interior of the home had been ransacked possibly by vermin.
The city sent letters to Shaffer dated Nov. 17, 2011, and May 15, 2013.
The November letter stated the city found the following violations and deficiencies at the Ranch Road residence: The residence has no electrical service and water, water lines are frozen and burst, the home was ransacked by what appears to be possibly raccoons, and the sewer has not been and cannot be used until corrections have been made.
The letter dated May 15 states the city building and planning department continues to receive complaints about the condition of the property. Complaints include tall grass on the property.
Additionally there has been a tarp put on the roof, and continued complaints of vermin by neighbors.
Slabaugh posted a letter on the residence door in November 2011 that states it is unsafe and not to be entered.
Donna and her husband attended Monday’s hearing showing up 10 minutes late and stating they did not know where the new city hall was located. Donna said she has not had the money to make repairs to the home. She said she cleans homes for a living and visits the Ranch Road home twice a month.
“The house has severe plumbing issues in the floor with the pipes in the kitchen,” Donna said.
She said her ex husband has not paid child support, and she has struggled to raise two honors students and has not had the funds to fix the home. She also said she has health problems with arthritis as well as heart problems.
Slabaugh said he estimated it would take $35,000 to $40,000 to bring the property up to code.
Slabaugh presented to Clifford a petition from concerned residents with 12 signatures requesting the property be brought up to code or demolished.
“You’ve put the city, my department and me in a bad position because I’ve seen this get worse, not better, and that’s the reason we’ve come to this point,” Slabaugh said.
Five residents attended Monday’s hearing to express their concerns with the home.
Nancy Stover, 1401 Ranch Road, said she had concerns with Donna’s home causing neighbors’ property values to decrease.
Cindy Justice, 1408 Ranch Road, who lives across the street from the property, provided photos of the exterior during the hearing that showed tall grass and a tarp on the roof.
“I’m tired of looking at this dilapidated home. I want it brought up to code or removed,” Justice said.
Michael Alspaugh, 1502 Ranch Road, who lives six houses down from the dilapidated property, said he is serving in an advisory position to Shaffer. Alspaugh said he is a licensed general contractor in California and has 30 years experience in residential remodeling. He first brought up the issue of the home at Warsaw City Council’s May 20 meeting.
During Monday’s hearing, Alspaugh said the home can be repaired, but is a matter of organization and money.
“Once you fix the roof, plumbing, drywall, and install new carpet, that house would be liveable again,” Alspaugh said.
Alspaugh said the home’s furniture needs to be removed so there is access inside the home. The home has trash inside such as old bottles and recyclables that needs to be removed using a large dumpster, he said.
He also said ceiling insulation inside the home needs to be removed, sheet rock needs to be installed, and new drain pipes need to be installed in the kitchen.
Alspaugh said there also is a possibility there might be asbestos in the home that would cost $10,000 to $15,000 to remove.
He suggested United Way Day Of Caring volunteers could help with removing debris in the home.
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