Hearing Officer Reviews Properties Deemed Unsafe By City
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Jennifer [email protected]
Clifford previously reviewed the properties during a hearing Oct. 21.
One of the properties was a former commercial building at 202 S. Union St., owned by Michael Walton. A lawn mower sales business previously occupied the building, but it is still vacant.
Walton attended Monday’s hearing and said due to his work schedule, personal matters and lack of funds it has been difficult for him to complete all repairs to the property requested by the city. However, he has made repairs since the October hearing.
Walton said a local vending company has expressed interest in purchasing the property and making needed repairs to the Union Street property.
At its October hearing the city had recommended the property be demolished. However, during Monday’s hearing, Clifford modified the demo order and issued a repair order for repairs to be completed by April 1.
Clifford also said a $1,000 civil penalty has been postponed until April 1. Walton must schedule and pass a building inspection with the building and planning department by April 1 or the civil penalty will go into effect.
“I’m interested in having it fixed up and resolved and if you work toward the goal you will be fine, but if not it will cost you,” Clifford said.
Todd Slabaugh, building commissioner, said since the October hearing the building is 60 to 70 percent compliant. Bricks that are deteriorating and falling off the building still need to be repaired. Siding and facade repairs need to be completed as well as windows boarded up.
There have been issues that have been fixed since the October hearing, including large overgrown weeds, scrap wood removed and stacked up neatly by the sidewalk, palates removed from the roof, the doorway on the south side of the building secured and a dilapidated fence on the south side of the property has been removed.
Also during the hearing, Clifford reviewed a home deemed unsafe and non-compliant by the city owned by William Kelly at 624 E. Center St.
The items of concern include the roof and overhangs that are dilapidated, a number of windows are in need of replacement, the home’s chimney appears to be in danger of collapsing and there is excessive weed and brush growth all around and up the side of the home. There also is an issue of water damage from excess water on the roof leaking into the home.
Clifford ordered an interior inspection of the home at 9 a.m. Wednesday by Slabaugh. Clifford also imposed a $1,000 civil penalty that he postponed until June 1. If Wednesday’s inspection does not occur, the civil penalty will be imposed automatically. Clifford reset the hearing for April 21 at 1:30 p.m. at city hall.
“This needs to be fixed. This building is literally falling apart around you and the city will not put up with this any longer and you need to make this your highest priority to get this fixed,” Clifford said.
Slabaugh agreed repairs need to be made to the home.
“It’s a matter of property values and respect for your neighborhood and your own living conditions. I have a feeling I am going to see what I don’t want to see when I go to inspect it,” Slabaugh said.
Kelly said he has talked to a contractor about lowering the chimney that has occurred. He has sought assistance from Housing Opportunities of Warsaw for funding to make repairs to the roof, but was informed the funding would not be available until next year.[[In-content Ad]]
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Clifford previously reviewed the properties during a hearing Oct. 21.
One of the properties was a former commercial building at 202 S. Union St., owned by Michael Walton. A lawn mower sales business previously occupied the building, but it is still vacant.
Walton attended Monday’s hearing and said due to his work schedule, personal matters and lack of funds it has been difficult for him to complete all repairs to the property requested by the city. However, he has made repairs since the October hearing.
Walton said a local vending company has expressed interest in purchasing the property and making needed repairs to the Union Street property.
At its October hearing the city had recommended the property be demolished. However, during Monday’s hearing, Clifford modified the demo order and issued a repair order for repairs to be completed by April 1.
Clifford also said a $1,000 civil penalty has been postponed until April 1. Walton must schedule and pass a building inspection with the building and planning department by April 1 or the civil penalty will go into effect.
“I’m interested in having it fixed up and resolved and if you work toward the goal you will be fine, but if not it will cost you,” Clifford said.
Todd Slabaugh, building commissioner, said since the October hearing the building is 60 to 70 percent compliant. Bricks that are deteriorating and falling off the building still need to be repaired. Siding and facade repairs need to be completed as well as windows boarded up.
There have been issues that have been fixed since the October hearing, including large overgrown weeds, scrap wood removed and stacked up neatly by the sidewalk, palates removed from the roof, the doorway on the south side of the building secured and a dilapidated fence on the south side of the property has been removed.
Also during the hearing, Clifford reviewed a home deemed unsafe and non-compliant by the city owned by William Kelly at 624 E. Center St.
The items of concern include the roof and overhangs that are dilapidated, a number of windows are in need of replacement, the home’s chimney appears to be in danger of collapsing and there is excessive weed and brush growth all around and up the side of the home. There also is an issue of water damage from excess water on the roof leaking into the home.
Clifford ordered an interior inspection of the home at 9 a.m. Wednesday by Slabaugh. Clifford also imposed a $1,000 civil penalty that he postponed until June 1. If Wednesday’s inspection does not occur, the civil penalty will be imposed automatically. Clifford reset the hearing for April 21 at 1:30 p.m. at city hall.
“This needs to be fixed. This building is literally falling apart around you and the city will not put up with this any longer and you need to make this your highest priority to get this fixed,” Clifford said.
Slabaugh agreed repairs need to be made to the home.
“It’s a matter of property values and respect for your neighborhood and your own living conditions. I have a feeling I am going to see what I don’t want to see when I go to inspect it,” Slabaugh said.
Kelly said he has talked to a contractor about lowering the chimney that has occurred. He has sought assistance from Housing Opportunities of Warsaw for funding to make repairs to the roof, but was informed the funding would not be available until next year.[[In-content Ad]]
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