By Liz Adkins
InkFreeNews

SYRACUSE — The Kosciusko County Board of Zoning Appeals has filed a civil plenary in Kosciusko Circuit Court against a Syracuse property owner.

The plenary’s listed defendant is Richard Brungardt, who owns property at 11639 N. SR 13, Syracuse. In the suit, the county BZA is being represented by Adam D. Turner.

According to court documents, on or about Oct. 7, 2020, a barn was built at Brungardt’s property without proper permits in violation of the county’s zoning ordinance.

The suit states that “after repeated requests from agents of the Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission and the Kosciusko County Board of Zoning Appeals, and after threat of legal action, (Brungardt) has not taken any steps to remedy the violation of the Kosciusko County Zoning Ordinance.”

The county BZA is requesting judgment ordering Brungardt to immediately cease and desist violations of the Kosciusko County Zoning Ordinance, as well as coverage for court costs, “and for all further and proper relief which the premises may require.”

The BZA, through Area Planning Director Matt Sandy, is also requesting the court assess penalties for each and every day the violations have occurred, at the maximum rate of $300 per day. “Any person who violates this ordinance may be penalized no less than $10 per day nor more than $300 per day for each day the violations continue,” reads the suit.