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Home renovator Jessica Carter asks Kentland to pause nuisance lawsuit over 112 West Street
Summary
In public comment Jessica Carter told the council she bought 112 West Street in May, hired a lawn service May 9 and plans a substantive renovation starting mid‑October; she asked the town to stop or dismiss a nuisance lawsuit while she completes repairs. Council members acknowledged communication gaps and said staff would try to prepare follow‑up paperwork before the next meeting.
Jessica Carter addressed the council during public comment about a town‑filed nuisance lawsuit concerning 112 West Street. Carter said she and her husband purchased the property May 1, 2025, have begun maintenance and have scheduled renovation work with a projected start date in mid‑October.
Carter said the owners had hired a lawn service and had crews clear debris on May 9, secured doors and windows, and that they plan to complete substantial repairs. "We would really like to continue with that house and fix it," Carter said, and asked that the town remove or pause the lawsuit so she could invest in the property without the risk of enforcement action interrupting work.
Council members and staff acknowledged that prior communications could have been clearer about timing and expectations. Council discussed options and the mayor or clerk said staff would prepare paperwork and attempt to place a dismissal or follow‑up item on the next paper packet for the council to consider; staff said they would "do my best to get it on before then." The transcript does not record a formal dismissal — the council recorded the commitment to prepare paperwork and to revisit the case at the next available meeting.
The exchange included discussion of prior notices and the town attorney’s involvement; council members emphasized that the town wants to see progress on the property while also explaining long‑running concerns about the condition of the house predating the current owner. The council accepted Carter’s timeline (a target start in October and an estimated completion in about four months for the major renovation) as sufficient basis to ask staff to attempt administrative follow‑up.
Next steps: staff will prepare the necessary paperwork and return the item to council; the transcript indicates paperwork is expected to be available by the next Tuesday packet but does not show a recorded dismissal or a change in the lawsuit status at this meeting.
