Ranch Road Resident Expresses Concern With Dilapidated Property
Posted
Jennifer Peryam-jperyam@timesuniononline.com
A house at 1405 Ranch Road sits unoccupied with a tarp on the roof and a sign posted on the door by the city’s building commissioner that states the property is unsafe. A hearing has been set for June 17 at 12:30 p.m. at city hall for the city’s Code Enforcement Officer Lawrence Clifford to review the property. Michael Alspaugh, a Ranch Road resident, who lives a few doors down from the property, attended Monday night’s Warsaw City Council meeting to speak on behalf of his neighbors who have concerns with what they call the “dilapidated property.” “The neighbors have said they have been fighting with this for eight years. They look across the street at an absolute dump and it appears nothing is being done,” Alspaugh said. Alspaugh said the property is a health hazard. The home is owned by Donna Antonides, who currently lives in Fort Wayne. Alspaugh said the grass at the property has gotten two feet high, and he mowed the grass at the property over the weekend. Alspaugh said neighborhood residents have been concerned with rodents on the premises and the appearance of the property. The residents have started a petition that had nine signatures Monday night that states they are concerned about the run-down condition of the house and continued neglect of keeping the yard mowed. The petition also requests that the residence be condemned or demolished. Residents said they will submit the petition to Clifford. A sign was taped to the residence door Monday night, signed by Todd Slabaugh, building commissioner, that read the entire property is in an unsafe condition and must not be used or entered by anyone without written permission of the building commissioner. Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer said the city is aware of the issue. He also said condemnation of a home is a lengthy process and there is a state statute that protects homeowners and landowners from a municipality coming in to condemn a building without giving the homeowner a chance to repair it. City Attorney Mike Valentine said Clifford will review the issue. “If they don’t bring themselves into compliance, there will be an order issued for demolition,” Valentine said. Thallemer encouraged Alspaugh to attend the hearing.
