Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
WINONA LAKE - Building commissioner Dick Leaf advised the town council Tuesday about action taken against two properties.
The first, regarding homeowners Devlin and Wendi Barnes, 1408 Walnut St., pertained to an expired building permit and a neighbor's complaints about the unfinished work and building materials stored outside.
Leaf said an 18-month permit was paid for and issued July 2000 and various projects began. Leaf said a registered letter was received by the Barnes Jan. 17 outlining the complaints and asking for a timetable for project completion.
"I need direction," Leaf explained to the council. "I don't want to fine him, I'd like to see the work done."
Barnes told the council he had completed projects every year, including landscaping, installing new windows and re-siding most of the house.
"It will take another two to three years," he said. "I'm doing all the work myself."
He said illness has slowed his progress and he knew the neighbor's complaints were about incomplete work to an addition at the back.
"I know the permit is expired. I won't do work without it. There are five houses within a block in the same situation."
He said he couldn't find a company to do siding work until the weather is warmer.
Leaf said plenty of contractors are siding houses in cold temperatures "who have been putting up siding all winter long."
He asked that some type of time commitment be given in writing.
"He didn't come in and talk to me. I'll extend the permit," Leaf said. Barnes asked the permit be extended until July 21 and Leaf agreed "as long as the neighbors stay off my back and you put up the siding that's fallen down."
Council president David Delp advised that Barnes not communicating with Leaf was a problem.
"We don't want you back in here (for the same thing) in August and September," he said.
Leaf also talked about the condemned building at 1007 Court St. He said the building isn't in an unsafe condition but it should either undergo major renovation or be torn down. He said he heard the owner will be back in town next month and had plans to remove the house.
In other business, the board:
• Advised Art Gakstatter, a part-time island resident, how to apply for an alley vacation south of 12th Street between Court and West Canal streets.
• Approved a change order of $54,198 as requested by G&G Hauling and Excavating and approved by Wessler & Associates and IDEM. The change brings the contract price to $326,035 for the sanitary sewer rehabilitation project.
• Approved a change order of $16,970 as requested by Phend & Brown for work on Park Avenue as part of the Chestnut Street project, bringing the cost of that project to $187,933.
• Heard upcoming Winona events were: a Lakeland Community Concert with pianist Antonio Pompa-Baldi in Rodeheaver Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. Friday; the Community Appreciation Dinner at the Senior Center March 28 at 6 p.m.; LCCA with violinist Linda Wang in Rodeheaver at 7:30 p.m. April 12; Ralph Carmichael and his Orchestra in Rodeheaver April 26 at 3:30 p.m.; and the Grace Community Appreciation Concert in Rodeheaver, also April 26 at 7:30 p.m.
Town council members are: David Delp Craig Snow, Jeff Carroll, Jerry Clevenger and Rolly Ortega.
