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Dubois County orders repairs, pauses fine after owner signs demolition contract for deteriorating Main Street building
Summary
County commissioners found a Main Street building unsafe, ordered clearance and repair work, voted a $1,200 civil penalty and instructed health staff to solicit contractor quotes — then agreed to delay enforcement after the owner presented a signed demolition contract with a May 25 start and June 15 completion target.
DuBois County commissioners on May 5 determined that a boarded Main Street building presented an immediate public-safety hazard and authorized county staff to solicit contractor quotes to remove the unsafe portion of the structure and clear debris from the public right-of-way.
The action followed multiple inspections by county health staff and repeated attempts to secure voluntary repairs from the owner. Commissioners voted to assess a civil penalty of $1,200 to cover county enforcement costs, and directed the health department to obtain two to three demolition quotes if the cost is expected to exceed the county's informal threshold for soliciting multiple bids.
At the meeting the property owner appeared and said he had signed a contract with a local excavator to demolish the unsafe rear addition. The owner told commissioners the contractor would begin no later than May 25 and complete work by June 15. Because the owner provided a binding contract with a near-term schedule, the board voted to postpone activation of the civil penalty until the June 15 completion date; commissioners said the penalty could be reinstated if the work is not finished or the contract is not executed as presented.
County legal staff advised that if the county performs demolition, the costs can be assessed to the property and eventually placed as a lien if unpaid. Commissioners asked health staff to document time and costs incurred enforcing the order so any final monetary assessment accurately reflects county expenses.
The board asked for an update at its next scheduled meeting on June 16 and said staff would re-inspect the property to confirm completion before taking further enforcement steps.
Ending — The county's action was framed as a public-safety response: the commissioners said they preferred the owner to complete the repairs, but also prepared to carry out the work and recover costs if the property is not corrected by the new June 15 deadline.
