Penalties and fines were added to the Environmental Public Nuisance ordinance during the recent meeting of the Starke County Planning Commission.
Some examples of environmental public nuisance may include inoperable or dilapidated vehicles in the yard.
There have not been any set fines or penalties for infractions, making it difficult for the code enforcement officer to better perform duties. These new penalties will give the officer a little more authority.
The new fines will be broken down to a three-part penalty. The first infraction will result in a written notice delivered by the code enforcement officer, plus a $350 administrative fee which can be waived at the discretion of the officer. If the issue isn’t resolved or contact is not made with the officer, then a second notice will be mailed. The first infraction and fee will be terminated but a new $350 administrative fee will be issued, along with a $2,500 penalty fine.
If issues remain unresolved, it will result in a notice of abatement, an additional $350 administrative fee equaling $700 and an additional $2,500 fine totaling $5,000 in fines.
Property owners and renters can dispute the fines, but if it is not taken care of in a timely manner, it could result in a tax lien on the property. Property owners are still then designated owners until a year after the property has a tax license put on it, or they get the back payments paid. If the problem is cleaned up, but starts to reoccur again within 30 calendar days, the penalty process can start new.
The new money collected from these fines will be split up in to three separate accounts where 25 percent will go to the Unsafe House Fund, 25 percent will go in to the new Public Nuisance Abatement Fund and 50 percent will go in to the County General Fund.
A motion to approve the changes to the ordinance passed unanimously. The ordinance will now go to the Starke County Commissioners for final approval.
