Sewer Dispute Puts Couple's Property Up For Tax Sale
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
NORTH WEBSTER - A dispute over a sewer hookup has led to a Muncie couple's Backwater Lake property being put up for tax sale.
Charles and Goldie Bowen, who own a lakefront cottage on EMS W23 Lane, came before the North Webster Town Council Wednesday to argue the lien placed on the property by the town because they didn't hook on to the sewer system as required. That led to the real estate being listed for tax sale.
Council members voted to deny making any adjustment to the bill since the Bowens have had four years to come into compliance. State law requires all developed properties to hook into a sewer system if it is within 100 feet of the real estate. The Bowens argued that the cottage was just a shack and didn't need to be on the sewer system.
Clerk-treasurer Peg Lawrance said that many notices about the matter were sent to the Bowens and all went unanswered until now.
The couple have until Oct. 27 to redeem the property.
In another matter, the council heard from Bob Murphy of Murphy & Associates, Larwill, that the infrastructure work at the site of the senior citizen housing complex should be completed by the end of this month.
D.J. Construction of Goshen, which was awarded the bid for the structures, is expected to begin work immediately thereafter.
It was also announced that the $97,000 local match for infrastructure from the Housing Assistance Office was received.
In other business, the council approved establishing a fee schedule for the police department responding to false security alarms and for fingerprinting.
Businesses are allowed 12 false alarms per year. After that, a fee of $40 per response will be assessed.
Also, the police department will begin charging $3 per person for fingerprinting.
The next meeting is at 7 p.m. Nov. 12 in the town hall. [[In-content Ad]]
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NORTH WEBSTER - A dispute over a sewer hookup has led to a Muncie couple's Backwater Lake property being put up for tax sale.
Charles and Goldie Bowen, who own a lakefront cottage on EMS W23 Lane, came before the North Webster Town Council Wednesday to argue the lien placed on the property by the town because they didn't hook on to the sewer system as required. That led to the real estate being listed for tax sale.
Council members voted to deny making any adjustment to the bill since the Bowens have had four years to come into compliance. State law requires all developed properties to hook into a sewer system if it is within 100 feet of the real estate. The Bowens argued that the cottage was just a shack and didn't need to be on the sewer system.
Clerk-treasurer Peg Lawrance said that many notices about the matter were sent to the Bowens and all went unanswered until now.
The couple have until Oct. 27 to redeem the property.
In another matter, the council heard from Bob Murphy of Murphy & Associates, Larwill, that the infrastructure work at the site of the senior citizen housing complex should be completed by the end of this month.
D.J. Construction of Goshen, which was awarded the bid for the structures, is expected to begin work immediately thereafter.
It was also announced that the $97,000 local match for infrastructure from the Housing Assistance Office was received.
In other business, the council approved establishing a fee schedule for the police department responding to false security alarms and for fingerprinting.
Businesses are allowed 12 false alarms per year. After that, a fee of $40 per response will be assessed.
Also, the police department will begin charging $3 per person for fingerprinting.
The next meeting is at 7 p.m. Nov. 12 in the town hall. [[In-content Ad]]