Jennings County APC grants 30 days in court for multiple show-cause hearings, awards cleanup contracts

The Jennings County Area Plan Commission spent the meeting hearing a series of show-cause cases alleging property-maintenance violations across the county, frequently granting property owners 30 days in court to address trash, inoperable vehicles and debris.

Commissioners heard individual matters for properties including 686 Greenbrier Circle (Harold DeWitt), 1287 East Buckeye (Kenneth Hughes), 258 Hawthorne Drive (Brian Kirby), 9095 West 555 North (Harold Mason), 2207 Abenshire Court (Donna Moore), 112 South Jennings Street (Carl and Heather Ravey) and multiple other addresses. In most instances commissioners followed staff recommendations and approved motions giving property owners 30 days in court to come into compliance; several items were dismissed or placed on hold where the owner had resolved the issue or had an active rezone application.

In several hearings owners or family members appeared and described partial cleanups, repairs in progress or circumstances limiting their work (medical issues, pending deed recording or parts and repairs taking time). Commissioners repeatedly told owners to notify staff if a clean-up was finished…