Warsaw Hearing Officer Lawrence Clifford ordered the demolition of a Warsaw home and garage during a hearing Monday afternoon.
Clifford ordered vacant property at 415 N. Cook St., Warsaw, owned by Jeanine Kinsey, to be demolished in the next 30 days.
Kinsey has not lived in the home for 10 years and a demolition on the garage, but not the home, was issued by Clifford more than a year ago.
Clifford said the home and garage have 30 days to be demolished.
Kinsey attended Monday’s hearing and said she was trying to save money up to have the garage demolished, but did not have the money at the time.
She asked Clifford if she could have time to look in the home to see if there were items she could salvage, and he agreed to that.
Building Commissioner Todd Slabaugh said the building department had continued to receive complaints about the condition of the home that has been vacant for more than 10 years, and said conditions continue to deteriorate.
Slabaugh presented photos of the property during Monday’s hearing. The photos showed holes in the roof of the home, grass and weeds more than 3 feet tall, porch windows broken out, back door glass broken out, the garage falling down and roof caving in, and a bedroom window broken out.
Slabaugh also said animals and rodents have gained entry into the house and garage.
Slabaugh said the demolition cost for the house and garage is approximately $3,700.
In other business, Clifford reviewed a property owned by Mark Davis, 1404 E. Main St., Warsaw, that had been named unsafe by the city.
Slabaugh said the city had received complaints from neighbors about the home that has been vacant since Davis lived in the home eight years ago.
The home has a deteriorating roof, peeling siding and a broken window.
Davis has until July 26 to complete roof, facia and gutter work and replace the broken window.
Clifford set another hearing on the property for Oct. 19 to further review the case. However, if Davis meets the hearing orders there will not be another hearing.
In other business, Clifford reviewed a zoning and compliance issue by Midway Gold & Coins, 1301 N. Detroit St., Warsaw.
City Planner Jeremy Skinner said the business is in violation of the city’s zoning ordinance that states a business must have a sign permit. The business has a banner displayed, but does not have a permit for it, Skinner said.
Mike Clark, Midway Gold & Coins owner, read a four- page statement during the hearing regarding his concerns not being allowed to display a banner advertising his business that he has not gotten permission to display.
Clark said Roger Long, Warsaw building commissioner, visited his business and asked him to remove his signs advertising his business from utility poles, which he did.
Long said that he also needed to take down his banner at his business, and said it looked like a circus.
“My question is what is the real circus, me being a small business owner in a community that is struggling just like the rest of the country and who is trying to draw in business with different forms of advertising,” Clark said.
He said the city’s ordinances are hindering small businesses by putting tighter stipulations on the rules and regulations for advertisement. “In the end the only thing I really ask is that my banner be left alone,” Clark said.
He had previously expressed his concerns with the banner issue at a city council meeting when city attorney Mike Valentine said the issue would be reviewed by the city’s hearing officer.
Skinner said the issue is that Clark has not applied for a sign permit with the building and planning department.
Skinner said he hand delivered a letter to Clark informing him he needed to apply for a sign ordinance with the city’s building and planning department.
Clifford ruled Monday the business is in violation of the city’s sign ordinance for not having applied for a sign permit.
He said Clark has three days to review the city’s sign ordinance, and has until Friday to apply for a sign permit with the building and planning office.
If Clark decides not to apply for a sign permit, he will be issued a $250-per-day fine.
