HOBART | Kevin O'Connor blames the city for some of the mess that fills a corner of the front lawn of his home on West 39th Place.
O'Connor said city officials denied his request, several years ago, to build a garage on his property. So he's had no choice but to use his front yard as a place to store a transmission, other assorted car parts, filled trash bags and other items.
"I'm not perfect," O'Connor said.
Building Official Mike Hannigan is well aware of O'Connor's many excuses.
Hannigan considers O'Connor a repeat offender since this is the third time around city officials have dealt with complaints from neighbors about his messy property.
"(O'Connor) is like a pack rat type of person," Hannigan said.
This time, if O'Connor doesn't clean up his property, Hannigan has new recourse per directions he received last week at the Board of Works meeting from Mayor Brian Snedecor and other officials.
"Instead of having homeowners come to the Board of Works for failure to comply, we can send them to City Court. ... We've never done that before. This is brand new," Hannigan said.
Hannigan estimates there are probably at least six homeowners in Hobart who fit the repeat offender category.
"Unfortunately we have quite a few people who get their property cleaned up, then two or three months later it's all over again," Hannigan said.
Hannigan believes that sending repeat offenders to court instead of having them go before the Board of Works may send a more serious message.
"The judge can fine the cited homeowner as much as $2,500. That will wake them up," Hannigan said.
The Board of Works can issue fines of up to $1,000 and also can place a lien on the property.
City Councilman David Vinzant, D-4th was the one who broached the issue at last week's Board of Works meeting after hearing about ongoing issues on 39th Place and another on Ind. 51.
"Can we fast track these people who are repeat offenders?" Vinzant asked.
Vinzant, who heads the Ordinance Committee, said that city officials might need to consider passing an ordinance to handle such situations.
But Snededor said he already had spoken to City Judge William Longer and confirmed the local courts willingness to handle such cases.
Vinzant said the City Court is the logical place for repeat offenders, who may need additional services such as counseling. Tom Ehrhardt, a works board member, agrees.
"In some cases, the homeowners don't grasp the community position, for some it's a mental health issue."
Ehrhardt said officials aren't interested in being punitive.
"We just want to clean the property up," he said.
Board of Works member Rich Lain said he agrees sending offenders to court may be the answer and he'd like specific guidelines on what constitutes a repeat offender.
Lain also would like to see those who repeatedly don't show up for compliance before the Board of Works also be sent to court.
"It's a natural progression," Lain said.
