St. Joseph County approves cleanup of long-running nuisance at 58078 Pear Road

St. Joseph County commissioners voted Feb. 18 to approve a contractor quote to remediate a property at 58078 Pear Road that has an extended history of code, zoning and health complaints.

Abby Wiles, director of the Area Plan Commission, presented photos, a quote and a memo documenting the property’s violations and told commissioners the county had worked with the property owner since 2022. Wiles said a limited front-of-property cleanup had been completed previously but nuisance materials remain and the scale of the problem now requires contracted remediation.

Wiles described outreach efforts and said staff "have made attempts to make referrals to, real services, adult protective services, and, like, crisis intervention, but there's not, like, this case doesn't fit neatly within any of those agencies." She said staff will post notice on the property before the cleanup, can notify a family friend who has previously assisted, and may arrange police presence at the start of the cleanup if necessary.

Commissioners asked whether the owner or family had been notified and expressed concern the owner—described in discussion as elderly—could object or sue despite multiple outreach attempts. Wiles said attorneys had been involved and that an appeals process exists under state code for violations or invoices after a cleanup.

The motion to approve the cleanup quote carried: Commissioner Morton, aye; Commissioner Hazen, aye; Commissioner Maxmeier, aye.

Joe Locke, the code inspector, documented the site with photos referenced in Wiles’s presentation. Commissioners and staff said the county’s complaint-driven program had received multiple complaints about the property over an extended period and that action was needed to bring the property into compliance.