City cracks down on dilapidated houses

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

The City of Van Wert is getting tough on derelict properties and local residents who don’t file tax returns, according to information provided at Monday’s Van Wert City Council meeting.

Mayor Don Farmer told Council members he had city workers put “danger” tape around three properties owned by Chester Hamrick. The properties, two of which are on North Walnut Street and the other on North Jefferson, are unsafe, the mayor noted.

“As mayor, I do have the authority to make some moves based on safety, and today we made moves on three pieces of property either in need of repair or demolition,” Mayor Farmer said. “We have been working on these three pieces of property well beyond our patience.”

The mayor said legal action would commence soon against Hamrick to force him to either repair or demolish the abandoned and dilapidated houses, which he said are a safety hazard.

According to Mayor Farmer, Hamrick has been given the opportunity to have the houses demolished using Moving Ohio Forward grants, but refused to do so.

City Law Director John Hatcher said he is also going after people who don’t pay their income taxes, while criminal charges may be forthcoming against those who haven’t filed tax returns at all.

“I don’t say that lightly,” Hatcher said. “I’m not a fan of throwing our citizens in jail, but they have had multiple opportunities.”

Tax Administrator Rudy Grant has identified a number of people who owe city income taxes, while several people haven’t filed tax returns overall.

The mayor added there would be no tax amnesty program this year for those owing city income taxes and urged those owing taxes to contact Grant soon to avoid legal action.

Also on Monday, City Council approved a request to rezone a property along Jennings Road adjacent to the Sunset Court subdivision from R-1 to R-2. The zoning change would allow for smaller lot sizes, less setback and the building of duplexes, if the property owner would choose to do so.

Also approved was a Community Reinvestment Act tax abatement for a building at 109 S. Washington St. Tin Cap Investments, which owns the building, apparently plans to renovate the second story into two luxury apartments, while renovating the ground floor for a retail business.

Safety-Service Director Jay Fleming talked about the rock salt situation for winter snow removal this year, noting that salt prices are higher and supplies are lower. He said he is working with the Ohio Department of Transportation to ensure the city has an adequate supply of salt this winter at a reasonable price.

City Auditor Martha Balyeat had mostly good financial news for City Council. Balyeat said the city would be receiving a $48,678 rebate for its workers compensation program, and noted that the city has taken in approximately $12,000 more this year than the same time in 2013. She also noted that, although the city has spent approximately $172,000 more this year than it has taken in, budget figures showed the city expected to spend nearly $1 million more than it took in.

“So that’s good news,” she said.

The meeting also included a spat between Third Ward Councilman Jerry Mazur and the mayor over economic development. Mazur noted that he was under the impression that the city could lose its Revolving Loan Fund if the county decides not to extend an administrative contract past the end of this year, which Mayor Farmer disputed vehemently.

Any further discussion on economic development was quashed by Council President Ken Mengerink, who also noted he sent a letter to the Van Wert County Board of Commissioners inviting the commissioners to provide a presentation on economic development to Council.

Mengerink’s letter asked the commissioners to respond by September 15.