Cloverdale Council looks to address unkept properties in town

Calling it a "hot topic," Cloverdale Town Council President Brandon Tancak and the Cloverdale Town Council took up matter of properties that have not been mowed or taken care of. 

Currently, offenders who do not cut their grass or maintain their property are issued a warning. If no action is taken, a violation will be issued on behalf of the town and continue until the matter is resolved. However, Cloverdale Town Marshal Adam Hull and Town Manager Jason Hartman both said there have been issues with tracking down property owners as of late. 

Hull said his department has been placing red tags on properties that have not been kept up, but that it is hard to find owners as they have left town. 

Hartman echoed those sentiments, adding the town is currently looking at different ways to hold owners responsible. 

One such way is a proposed ordnance that would see a town employee mow the property at the town's expense after the first warning and ticket is handed out. 

"We would go in, clean up the property and put a lien on the property to recoup our money. If we do pay for a property to be maintained, we would have to pay for that somehow. What we have right now is multiple properties around town where we don't know where the owners are. It's not fair to those people who live next door to someone who won't maintain their property," Hartman said. 

Hartman said he is aware of four yards that need to be mowed. 

"I made phone calls to people to try and track down property owners. We have two properties in town that have been disasters for four years and we believe the owner may be in a nursing home in Greencastle. The only option is for the town to maintain them and put a lien on the property. At the same time, that doesn't mean I won't stop trying to get them to maintain. At some point, you need to step in and take control," Hartman said. 

Tancak asked that any future ordinance include commercial properties as well as residential, noting there is a commercial property right in Cloverdale that never is mowed. 

"I would like to see commercial in there. It is only fair. If we are going to hold one accountable, we need to hold all accountable," Tancak said.

Tancak told The Putnam County Post the goal is to never get to the point where the town needs to do work and recoup the fees, but notes it is something that will be considered if needed. 

"The goal is not to ever get to that point obviously, but some properties in town have yet to be mowed this season and they are in direct violation. Not to mention the eye sore it brings to the property and neighbor's property," Tancak said. 

The council took all discussion as information and will have the town attorney review the matter with the hope of discussing it further at the June meeting.