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Hammond board waives and imposes late rental-registration fees in several cases
Summary
During late rental-registration hearings the board waived late fees for several property owners who cited personal circumstances or first-time issues, and imposed late fees on other owners who failed to appear or had no prior appeals.
The Hammond City board heard multiple late rental-registration appeals and in divided action waived late fees for some owners while imposing them for others.
At 4239 Torrance, property owner Laura Mesa said she and her husband had owned the property for 22 years and that she had struggled after her husband’s death; she told the board she had paid previously and could not find a 2025 receipt. The board moved to waive late fees for the two units at that address and approved the waiver. “I am Laura Mesa, and I'm the property owner for 22 years,” Mesa said while explaining the circumstances.
At 15841 77th Place the owner, George Epple, was not present in the meeting room but was believed to be on Zoom; staff noted he lives in Florida. The board voted to impose a late fee for that property after a motion and second.
At 1029 May Street owner Kyle Bowen said he had recently purchased the property and simply forgot to pay the registration; the board waived the late fee for that owner. Jim Doolin, at a separate hearing about a land-contract property, explained the contract had not been recorded; staff advised an affidavit and the board took no action while instructing the owner on next steps.
Tom Jenkins represented three properties with missed registrations in 2025, citing family and medical emergencies; the board waived late fees for those three properties. For 7413 Beach (owner 349 Dallas LLC) and 1468 Summer Street (Enrique Vargas Fafela) the board imposed late fees after motions and seconds.
What happens next: owners granted waivers were instructed to complete payments or follow administrative steps; staff will process the waivers and fines as directed by the board.
