Code Officer Tired Of Excuses

Warsaw's building code enforcement hearing officer, Larry Clifford, heard all the excuses he wants to hear Tuesday.

Now, he's going to see to it his directives are carried out - even if city crews have to do the work of cleaning up Tom and Cathy Hutchinsons' property at 421 W. Fort Wayne St.

The Hutchinsons' property has been repeatedly cited for being in violation of the city's environmental nuisance ordinance. Clifford imposed a $1,000 fine June 21 if the old lawn mower, motorcycle, automobile and household appliance strewn throughout the Hutchinsons' yard were not removed by July 6.

According to Warsaw building inspector Pam Kennedy, there has been no substantial change in the condition of the Hutchinsons' property.

"We've received two complaints from irate neighbors because there's been no compliance since the June meeting," Kennedy said.

This report resulted in a strong rebuke of Cathy Hutchinson by Clifford.

"If the environmental violations aren't cleaned up by July 23, I'm ordering the city onto the property to clean it up - with bulldozers and dump trucks if necessary," he said. "And this will be at your expense - a substantial expense."

In other business, Clifford imposed the following fines:

• $1,000 on Marcius Miller, 221 N. Columbia St., for willful and wanton failure to comply. Also, apartment "A" was ordered immediately vacated and sealed until electrical code violations are corrected.

"I will continue to impose a $1,000 fine every time this comes before me until the violations are corrected or they reach a point the city can take this property," Clifford said.

The property now has a total of $5,450 in fines levied against it.

• $1,000 on Alejandro Magos and Isabella Nunez, 1837 Michaels St., for willful failure to comply.