Unsafe Property Cited Additional Civil Penalty Fee
Two properties were brought before Lawrence Clifford, hearing officer for the Warsaw Code Enforcement. The hearing was held at 1:30 p.m. Monday, May 18. This was the decision made Monday during the Warsaw Code Enforcement hearing.
Phillip Allen Smith has been listed as the owner of property at 108 N. Park Ave., Warsaw, which has been found not in compliance and was set for a demolition hearing today. However, Todd Slabaugh, code enforcement officer, was advised the property has gone to the mortgage holder as Smith is going through bankruptcy procedure.
Due to the fact Northstar, the mortgage holder, had not received the appropriate 10 day hearing notice, the case was continued. However, Smith, who has not attended the last several hearings for this property, now has a civil penalty against him of $4,500. Clifford imposed a civil penalty fee of $2,500 in February and added an additional $2,000 today.
The home, which is vacant, has been boarded up by Property Preservation. Electrical service has been red tagged by NIPSCO.
Evelia Vega, 410 W. Winona Ave. Warsaw, is now in compliance with the city codes. Her son, Manuel, attended the hearing and showed proof the property now meets the city code requirements.
Clifford said, “I’m going to dismiss this as full compliance.”