The Muncie City Unsafe Building Hearing Authority on Dec. 20 reviewed a long-running compliance case involving a vehicle lot at 251001 East 29th Street and directed the owner/operator to remove 40 vehicles before the next hearing and provide documentation of the removals. The authority also adopted staff’s recommendation to impose a $1,000 civil penalty for failing to remove a sign previously ordered removed.

Why it matters: The lot has been the subject of multiple inspections and neighborhood complaints about zoning and public safety. The authority’s removal order and penalty impose a concrete, near-term compliance benchmark and escalate enforcement if the operator does not provide the required evidence.

What the record shows

Staff and board members pressed for precise accounting of vehicles removed versus vehicles brought back onto the lot. Staff proposed, and the authority adopted, a remedial plan: remove 40 cars in January and provide receipts or other verifiable documentation before the next hearing. An authority member summarized the staff recommendation: “I would ask that a civil penalty be imposed for that and to order 40 cars removed prior to the next hearing and to bring evidence of that.”

Owner response and enforcement logistics

The owner/representative said progress had been made but described operational obstacles such as tow-truck availability, repair schedules for vehicles, and recent setbacks. Board members repeatedly emphasized they wanted a strict, verifiable accounting: not just moved cars or vehicles shifted on-site, but documentation showing the cars were sold or scrapped.

Next steps

The authority set a removal target and required photographic or receipt evidence of removals at the next hearing. Failure to meet the target or to provide the documentation could result in further fines or referral to the city attorney. The order is effective immediately and the removal evidence is due by the next scheduled hearing date.