The Knox Board of Works continues pushing for the demolition of a garage at 204 West Bender Street. A demolition order was issued more than two years ago, but owner Lucia Valladares argued that the structure was viable and contractors could have it repaired in two weeks. She continued appealing the order through the court system, until the Indiana Court of Appeals dismissed the matter earlier this month.
During Wednesday’s meeting, the board of works denied her request for a permit giving her several months to tear down the garage, and opted to have the city do the work instead. Mayor Dennis Estok felt the issue has gone on long enough. “Do I want her to tear it down? No way, no how, because we’ll be there another year,” Estok said. “So my motion is to have the city go in there and take care of it, get rid of the garage, and then put it on as either a judgment or on the special assessment.”
Valladares will be issued notice of the city’s demolition plans.
Meanwhile, Director of Building and Code Compliance Kenny Pfost reported that the owners of 342-344 West Spruce Drive have gotten the outside cleaned up. Now, attention’s turning to the inside. “We had gotten a complaint from the Health Department about rodents,” Pfost said. “Now, nobody has complained to me about those issues when I did the inspections or anything, but it’s clear that the owners probably haven’t been inside those units in quite a while.”
Now, Pfost has issued an order to fix the interior issues, as well.
