Property Owner Asked To Seed Downtown Lot

Gary Warnacut was asked at Monday's Warsaw code enforcement meeting to reseed the property he owns at 121 W. Market St., at the corner of Lake and Market streets, Warsaw.

The "old Sears building" stood on that corner until a 1998 fire consumed the building. Warnacut said the building was demolished and the land was backfilled.

City planner Jeff Noffsinger said the city would like grass planted there for a "greening up" of the area.

"The city is involved in an improvement project," he said. "This will add to curb appeal."

Warnacut agreed to have the 88-foot by 132-foot lot reseeded within the next three weeks.

Hearing officer Lawrence Clifford discussed the property at 621 E. Fort Wayne St., belonging to Scott and LeeAnna Slone, with building commissioner Todd Slabaugh.

The Slones were not present at the hearing, nor did any other respondent appear.

The house burned in March 2001 and was considered a total loss. Slabaugh said a $113,000 loss has been figured and he had a quote for demolition in the amount of $6,200.

Slabaugh said a lawsuit involving the mortgage company, the Slones and an insurance company has been filed in federal court.

Clifford asked Warsaw fire chief Matt Warren if the fire was the result of arson. Warren said the fire had "suspicious origins."

"Isn't that what you say when you mean arson?" Clifford asked. The chief responded with a "no comment."

Slabaugh said he had a feeling the Slones don't believe the building is their responsibility, and it is becoming a vandalism and fire risk.

Barbara Elaine Grill and Robert and Beverly Eherenman were fined $1,500 each for zoning violations. Both fines will be waived for compliance.

Grill owns property at 120 N. Scott St. that is being used as a parking lot, a zoning violation in a residential district.

She was given until July 8 to reseed the lot.

The Eherenmans own property at 402 E. Center St. and the building there was destroyed by fire in April 2000.

An attempt to restore the property in 2001 was not successful. A demolition permit was issued and not acted upon.