Residents urge Scott County to abate asbestos at 1729 North Terrell; commissioners pledge letter and workshop

A cluster of neighbors told the Scott County Board of Commissioners on the public‑comment portion of its meeting that a partially demolished house at 1729 North Terrell Road is leaking asbestos and endangering nearby yards and farmland.

"By leaving this half‑fallen asbestos building exposed at 1729 North Terrell Road, it violates Indiana Administrative Code 326 IAC 14‑10 as well as the federal EPA National Emission Standard for hazardous air pollutants for asbestos, 40 CFR Part 61, Subpart M," said Russell Hapney, who introduced himself to the board and asked commissioners to direct code enforcement to order the property owner to abate, remove the structure and restore the site. Hapney named MVP Real Estate LLC as the owner and said an occupant, Michael Taylor Gilmore, had dismantled the structure without apparent permits.

Neighbor Sherry Bolts told the board she and other residents regularly pick up black material blown from the property and said burnings had occurred on the site. "It's a biohazard," she said, and she asked the commissioners to force removal and cleanup. Joe Hamlin, who lives next door, asked whether a permit exists for the camper where someone is living; the chair said staff would check with area planning.

The board said immediate next steps will begin with a letter. "From tonight, we'll send a letter urging the removal of the building and cleanup of the property," the chair said. He added that if the owner does not respond, the county will consider escalating to its attorney to pursue civil remedies, including liens to recoup abatement costs. Commissioners also discussed a proposed code‑enforcement officer and agreed to hold a workshop with the health department and area planning to clarify duties and coordinate responses to unsafe structures.

Why it matters: The neighbors allege ongoing asbestos exposure and unpermitted demolition at a privately owned, condemned property adjacent to residences and farmland. Commissioners described a sequence of administrative steps — check permits, send an official letter, and, if necessary, pursue legal remedies — and they identified the need for clearer code‑enforcement capacity to handle similar cases in the future.

Quotes and evidence: Direct claims and statutory citations above are those made by residents during public comment; commissioners stated only the county's intended administrative steps and did not report a completed enforcement action at the meeting.

What happens next: County staff will check area‑planning records for permits, the board will send a formal letter to the property owner, and commissioners plan a workshop to scope a code‑enforcement officer role and coordination with the health department. If the owner does not comply, the board indicated it could direct legal action to abate and place liens to recover costs.