Editor, Times-Union: I read, with interest, in the Tuesday, June 16, 2015, Times-Union the actions of Warsaw Hearing Officer Lawrence Clifford with regard to the Arnolt Property. There was an associated picture with the article showing the building with some broken windows and a cluttered floor space. Mr. Clifford ordered the property demolished with a civil penalty of $5,000 and the premise to be sealed and vacated immediately. I have read in the past of homes in the Warsaw area falling under this same review with severe penalties, orders to demolish and court fines. Each day, I drive by two derelict buildings as I go under the second viaduct going west on Winona Avenue. It is easy to get to this property as it is on the bike trail as you head into Warsaw from the south side. Many people know this property as the Gatke property. I am afraid to ask, but it appears Mr. Clifford is not aware of this property or its location as it is rarely discussed. I do know that there was an article published a while back in the Times-Union that the city was investing $16,000 for a study by Ball State of this particular property, the results of which were never published anywhere that I am aware of. This property, if Mr. Clifford takes the time to drive by it, has almost every window broken, has the brick around the door frames collapsing, and is very open to the public for their investigation and interest. The attorney in me feels it is a lawsuit waiting to happen. I think if Mr. Clifford instituted a $5,000-a-day fine against the City of Warsaw as long as these two buildings stand, they might get torn down a little sooner. Oh, but wait, Mr. Clifford works for the City of Warsaw and therefore it serves him and the city well for him to continue ignoring this extremely dangerous property. I feel the city of Warsaw must be waiting for one of three options. One, a tornado will set down exactly in that location, destroying both buildings and taking the remains off to a secluded and safe location. Two, a very rich and stupid buyer will come along, demolish the buildings, and build a Taj Mahal, thereby paying high taxes to the City of Warsaw. Three, one or more persons actually will be seriously injured while exploring the open building and really will file a multi-million dollar lawsuit against the City of Warsaw, at which point, the Warsaw city officials will believe they have a seriously dangerous situation on their hands and will demolish the buildings. There is a Bible situation which I would like to quote in regards to the City of Warsaw’s dealing with the Arnolt Property as compared to the Gatke Property which the city owns: “Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove that splinter from your eye, while the wooden beam is in your eye?’” Matthew 7:4 Jerry Nelson Winona Lake, via email
