The Kosciusko County Board of Zoning Appeals says this property, near SR 13 and CR 500 North just south of North Webster, is in violation of an exception that was granted to the owner, Owen Cobbum, in January.

Owen Cobbum has been taken to court by the Kosciusko County Board of Zoning Appeals regarding a zoning ordinance violation.

On Nov. 20, 2012, Cobbum petitioned the BZA for an exception allowing him to build a personal storage building on a piece of property he owns south of North Webster. The property is near the intersection of SR 13 and CR 500 North. On Jan. 8, of this year, the BZA approved Cobbum’s request with the caveat that there be no outside storage.

According to court documents, Cobbum continues to have outside storage of various equipment, materials and items at his property, despite repeated requests by agents of the Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission and BZA to rectify the problem. The BZA is under the impression Cobbum will continue to violate the terms of the exception that was granted unless action is taken by the courts.

According to the court documents, Cobbum has been in violation of the ordinance since Aug. 1. If the court sides with the BZA, Cobbum could end up paying as much as $300 for each day that he is, and has been, in violation.

Cobbum is no stranger to the county planning department as he was in involved in a similar situation about 10 years ago in the town of Syracuse. At that time, Cobbum was operating Combo Marine (formerly known as Waterworld) near Lake Wawasee. The business was located at the site where Lakeside Fitness Center is now located.

At that time, Kosciusko County Circuit Court Judge Rex Reed ordered Cobbum to cease operations at the establishment, clear the property of debris and comply with state fire code regulations. If Cobbum refused to obey the judge’s demands, he could have faced jail time.

Shortly after the judge issued his ruling, John Rinker, a co-founder of Rinker Boats, purchased Cobbum’s property and all of its contents. Rinker cleared the area, which took a fleet of dump trucks to haul away all of the boat and boat trailer parts.

“Had he had a clean business, he would have been an asset to the community,” said Tim Norwood, one of Rinker’s spokesmen, at the time of the incident.