A dumpster in front of the the Economy Inn is shown on Tuesday, Feb. 27.

Text and Photos
By Patrick Webb
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — Work at the Economy Inn has fallen behind schedule.

At a Tuesday, Feb. 27 meeting, the Warsaw Code Enforcement hearing docket included a report from Building Inspector Robert Hurford and Code Enforcement Officer Dana Hewitt, who visited the property at 3521 Lake City Highway on Monday, Feb. 26. 

Hurford reported that Economy Inn owner Jay Patel said work could be completed by December 2023. Work in certain areas, such as door frames, has not met deadlines set by staff.

A pile of concrete and trash sits next to the Economy Inn.

Neighboring businesses have complained of trash being left in sight of customers, including a pile of concrete and plaster, said Hewitt.

No representatives for the property attended the code hearing. They have also missed three code hearing meetings in the past, Hewitt stated. A demolition order is still in place for the property, Hurford reported.

Fines were proposed, but no further action was taken during the meeting.

The Code Hearing Docket also included a report on the property at 104 E. Prairie St. Norman Hoyt and his wife, who have a purchase agreement with the current owners, spoke at the code hearing meeting. Neighbors have complained about the unoccupied property’s appearances, and siding was supposed to be added.

Hoyt, who is working on adding siding by himself, reported he was sick for two weeks with COVID-19. He also reported he was waiting to hear back from First Federal bank on refinancing, which will take 60 days before working on the house’s interior. Hoyt was given until the next meeting, April 2, to finish siding on the house and windows and encouraged to hire help if possible.

Another matter on the code docket was for a business operating without a variance in a residential area at 1310 E. Clark St. Katrina VanNess, the daughter of the owner of the property, Katherine Brown, spoke.

The code enforcement staff said they had received complaints of a pet grooming business being operated without receiving a variance approval from the Warsaw Board of Zoning Appeals. A variance was requested, the staff reported, but was denied when no representatives appeared at the Board of Zoning Appeals meeting.

VanNess reported she was out of state at the time of the time of the appeals meeting. She also said her lawyer had informed her he had appeared. VanNess reported she was not currently operating a business. 

An inspection of the property revealed remodeling work had been done, such as adding a cleaning tub, new piping and drywall, without a permit and continued after being told to stop. The remodeling work for the business continued, the staff said, after VanNess had learned the variance was not approved.

VanNess was informed she will need to restore the house for residential use before reapplying for the business variance. The Board of Zoning Appeals requires people wait one year before reapplying, staff reported.

Other matters on the Warsaw Code Enforcement hearing docket were:

• The Shafer Rentals case for the property at 1017 E. Fort Wayne St. was dismissed. Hurford reported the required work was completed.
• The Dewayne and Becky Busz case for 317 N. Union St. was dismissed. Hurford reported the Buszes had completed the required work and paid the $300 fine assigned at the January meeting.
• The Code Enforcement staff heard an update on Abigail Moyotl Velezquez’s property at 513 E. Market St. The case has been handed over to Warsaw City Attorney Scott Reust who has filed a cease and desist of car sales at the property. Hearing Officer Thomas Earhart kept the case open to monitor the property.
• An end date was set for completion work on Cathy Jo Wade’s property at 815 E. Clark St. Hewitt reported he spoke with Wade over the phone as due to her job as a truck driver, she was unable to attend the meeting. Wade has continued interior work and will have an April 2 visit to see progress, with a completion goal by the Code Enforcement’s July 23 meeting.

The next Warsaw Code Enforcement Meeting will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 2, at Warsaw City Hall.