Sidney Council Looking To Enforce Town’s Ordinances
Posted
Jackie Gorski-
SIDNEY – Sidney Town Council is looking to enforce ordinances.
During a special meeting via Zoom Friday, the council voted to look into getting a contractor to be an ordinance enforcer for the town.
Council President Sharon Rancourt suggested town council members go around town once a week starting today and write down addresses of possible ordinance violators.
Rancourt also said the town council will have to research the topic more and talk to other towns to see how they handle ordinance violations.
“I don’t want to put anyone in a dangerous situation,” Rancourt said.
It was suggested the first notice of a violation be sent as a warning through regular mail; the second notice via certified mail and the third notice by a certified fine.
During Friday’s meeting, Rancourt said three ordinance violations were given out recently to residents.
The first violation was in regards to trash. The other ordinance violations involved a resident dumping a couch in a neighboring property and a loose, aggressive dog, both of which were served.
Rancourt also mentioned properties and areas that are being looked at.
Rancourt requested Bill Baxter, environmental scientist from the Kosciusko County Health Department, inspect three homes and the homeless camp that was reported by the railroad tracks. She said Baxter said they are all on his list to inspect.
There were eight properties reported to the Kosciusko County Auditor’s Office claiming to have homestead status but the owners didn’t actually live there. Letters were sent out to the property owners for verification, as well as one church that claimed nonprofit status. Rancourt stated the church is not an active church, so they haven’t been paying taxes. The homestead statuses and church are having an impact on the town and county because Rancourt said they’re not getting taxes from them.
The council also voted to entertain the idea of receiving legitimate offers on the property at 100 N. Monroe St. from residents.
Rancourt said the property has been vacant for a long time. At one point, the property was deeded to the town for zero dollars by the county commissioners, but the town council did not accept it at that point.
Rancourt said the property is still the town’s if the town is interested in it after talking with the county auditor’s office. It would cost about $750 to do a title search and deed. Rancourt made an addendum that stated all offers need to include demolition at the person’s cost.
The council did not vote on accepting the property or not.
The town council had an executive session March 24. There were three issues that were discussed during the executive session and voted on during Friday’s meeting.
Rancourt said the board needed to make public their votes and what was discussed so that could be recorded in the minutes.
The position of town council president was the main topic. The position became vacant when former president Jack Wolfe resigned, effective March 16. The position was originally offered to councilman Gavin Parrett. Parrett said after speaking with Kosciusko County Democrat Chair Brian Smith, he decided not to take the position.
During Friday’s meeting, Parrett made a motion to make Rancourt the new board president, which she seconded.
Due to liabilities to the town for health reasons, the town council voted to get rid of a shed that used to house town records.
The town council also learned the office would be ready Tuesday or Wednesday to move in. At the March meeting, the council voted to rent an office space for the clerk-treasurer to use.
