Warsaw Hearing Officer Lawrence Clifford reviewed a Warsaw property Tuesday that has been deemed non-compliant by the city. The property is at 108 N. Park Ave. and was previously lived in by Phil Smith, but is now vacant. Todd Slabaugh, building commissioner, said the city has received complaints about the home having boarded-up windows and exposed framing, a dilapidated rear porch, no siding, being unsecured, and electrical service to the home has been disconnected, deeming the home unsafe for occupancy. Slabaugh showed photos of the violations he took Feb. 12. During Tuesday’s hearing, Clifford imposed a $2,500 civil penalty on Smith, which is postponed until the 1:30 p.m. April 20 hearing at city hall that Smith will be required to attend. Slabaugh said the city sent Smith a letter dated Dec. 18 inquiring if the home was unsecured or abandoned. A violation letter and notice of Tuesday’s hearing was mailed 10 days ago to Smith’s Silver Lake post office box. Slabaugh said he also taped the violation letter and hearing notice to the Park Avenue property’s door. “I don’t know about the ownership or accountability on this home. I don’t see it as needing to be demolished, but I see it as unsafe with boarded-up windows,” Slabaugh said. Slabaugh said in 2000, Clifford came before the city’s hearing officer for interior violations to the home including electrical and remodeling violations. In other business, Clifford reset hearings to April 20 for the home of Raul Ramos, 202 S. Union St., where siding needs to be completed on the home, and Evelia Vega, 410 W. Winona Ave., where there is a television and wheel barrow in the backyard that needs to be removed.
