Logansport fines and hearings: board approves $1,000 and $500 fines, denies city cleanup at one address

The Logansport Board of Public Works and Safety on June 18 imposed fines and ruled on multiple property code cases after hearing code-enforcement staff reports and statements from residents.

Key actions: The board approved a $1,000 tier-2 fine for 201 East Miami Avenue and a $500 tier-1 fine for 716 North Fifth Street, both tied to repeated violations involving building materials and debris on rental properties. The board also approved a cleanup order for 109 Park Avenue, tabled action on 1328 Liberty Street for two weeks because repair work and a building permit are now in progress, and voted against ordering a city cleanup for 512 West Broadway.

Staff report and rationale: Randy (code enforcement) told the board that 201 East Miami and 716 North Fifth are repeat problem properties with building materials left on rental lots despite prior notices; he said his office had issued multiple notices and that owners had not responded or paid prior fines. For 201 East Miami, Randy said the property had previously received a $500 fine and an additional $100 related to earlier violations; the board moved to impose the full $1,000 tier-2 fine. On 716 North Fifth Randy said the property had prior notices but had not required a city-ordered cleanup this year, so staff recommended the $500 tier-1 fine.

512 West Broadway and homeowner comments: A resident who identified herself as Brandy appeared for 512 West Broadway and described prior cleanups and partial payments. Randy said past cleanups for that address cost the city nearly $900 and that the property has had multiple violations within 12 months; staff said a $100 administrative fine applies when staff brings a property before the board. When the board voted on a motion to approve a city cleanup at 512 West Broadway the motion failed (Chris Martin and Levi Jones both voted no). Randy told the resident that accepting proactive compliance or a plan of action would be preferable to repeated cleanups.

1328 Liberty Street: Randy asked to table the case for two weeks because the owner recently obtained a building permit and roof work was underway; the board voted to table to the July 2 meeting to allow repairs to proceed.

Process and tiers: Randy described the city’s tiered approach on repeat violations: tier 1 (up to $500), tier 2 ($500–$1,000), and tier 3 (starts at $1,000, up to $1,500) for repeat violations within a 12-month period. The board applied those tiers in its motions.

Votes and motions: The motions to fine 201 East Miami (tier 2, $1,000) and 716 North Fifth (tier 1, $500) passed unanimously among the two members present. The motion to order a city cleanup at 512 West Broadway failed. The board approved the cleanup order for 109 Park Avenue and tabled 1328 Liberty Street until July 2.