Mentone Council Hears About Condemned Oak Street Property
Posted
Jackie Gorski-
MENTONE – A home on Oak Street has been condemned by the Kosciusko County Department of Health.
The owners of 301 S. Oak St. appear to have abandoned the property, Councilman Tim Croy said during the Mentone Town Council meeting Wednesday. The property, in Croy’s opinion, needs torn down.
“We’ve worked with getting hold of the Board of Health - me and neighbors around that house - and they were in and they’ve actually condemned that house,” Croy said.
The house should be on the next tax sale.
There is still a car left on the property, Croy said, and Utility Superintendent Josh Shepherd said there still isn’t a mailbox at the property after one of his contractors hit it.
No one, including the family, appears to want the property, Croy said.
Town Marshal Jim Eads suggested mowing the lawn to keep the neighbors happy. Council President Jill Gross said they should be able to add the payment for mowing the lawn to what is owed on the house. There is a water bill claim on the house, as well. Town attorney Andrew Grossnickle said in order to add mowing fees to any claims on the house, notices have to be sent out. Eads said he’ll try to make contact today.
A second resident asked the Council to vacate the alley behind their residence.
Steve Svara said he just bought the home at 305 E. Main St. He called about a permit to add on to his shed and wants to build a garage. Svara spoke to Croy about the alleyway behind the home. Svara was told he could come in and ask for the alleyway to be vacated since Svara takes care of it. He and one of his neighbors take turns mowing the grass.
Croy said there’s an alleyway between Svara and a neighbor. Because of the town’s setbacks, Svara can’t put a garage to the side of the house because he would be approaching the alleyway. Croy said he couldn’t give him the permit for the garage. The only way to do it was to get the council to vacate the alleyway.
Croy also said Svara needed to let his neighbors know and the alley could be split between the two neighbors. However, if Svara’s neighbors didn’t want their half of the alleyway, they would need to let the council know.
Shepherd said he thinks there’s a sewer line in the area, but thinks it runs the opposite direction of the alley. Gross asked if the council should have Shepherd check the alley out before they approved the vacation.
Grossnickle said there is a process for Svara to do first before the town can approve the vacation. Grossnickle said Svara will have to fill out a petition. There will have to be a public hearing on the matter. Notices will have to put in the newspaper and notices to the adjoining neighbors have to be sent out.
During August’s meeting, John Martin, 102 W. Jefferson St., approached the council to have the alleyway behind his home vacated, which the council approved. Grossnickle said he contacted Martin about having to do this procedure as well. Grossnickle said between Wednesday and the October meeting, there should be enough time to put in the notices to have the council consider the issues at the October meeting.
