Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
A lawsuit has been filed by the city of Warsaw against David and Susan Wentzel to collect civil penalties in the amount of $5,000. The cause number is 43C01-0205-CC-361, filed May 8 in Kosciusko Circuit Court.
Since October 1998 the building department has issued orders to the Wentzels to make repairs on the property they own at 110 E. Center St.
In November 1998, November 2001, February 2002 and April 2002, additional civil penalties of $1,000 each were imposed by hearing officer Lawrence Clifford after proper notice and hearings.
The city is asking for $5,000 plus courts costs.
The Wentzels first applied for a rehabilitation permit in February 1996, and state-approved design release plans were received in the fall of that year, with little progress made on the building itself.
Inspections by then-building commissioner Gene Oliver were scheduled several times with the Wentzels failing to appear.
Since 1997, the sidewalk was ripped out, which the city replaced, broken windows were replaced with boards, utility services were disconnected and the building became an eyesore in the downtown district.
