FORT WAYNE – The National Weather Service in northern Indiana says northeast Indiana and northwest Ohio are likely to see more record-breaking heat on Monday.NEW HAVEN – Occupants of unsightly New Haven properties overflowing with garbage or rubbish will soon be responsible for paying the city to clean up the mess if they fail to do so.
New Haven City Council members agreed unanimously Tuesday to support a set of new rules regarding trash and rubbish on local properties.
The new ordinance will allow the city to remove garbage or rubbish from any property found to be in violation and to then bill the occupants for the city’s services.
That could include an hourly rate and a disposal charge, according to Tim Fox, the city’s code enforcement officer.
Fox would initially file the complaint and inform the occupants to remove the waste within five days.
If the occupants fail to comply, city crews would conduct the cleanup. The clerk-treasurer would then notify the occupants of the costs of that cleanup by certified mail.
Occupants would be required to pay the charges within 10 days or a tax lien would be placed against the property through the county auditor.
The ordinance defines trash as scrap metal, tires, appliances, furniture, ropes, boxes, barrels, rags, batteries, glass, construction debris, rubber, plumbing fixtures and any other item deemed to be trash or junk not housed in a building.
Councilman Ron Steinman, R-at large, asked why the council – which is considering several new ordinances involving code enforcement – couldn’t just modify some of Fort Wayne’s already established rules.
“Why are we reinventing the wheel?” Steinman asked.
Councilman Craig Dellinger, R-3rd, said he liked the ordinance because it was less restrictive than some other cities, including Fort Wayne.
“We also have a lot of subdivisions that have their own restrictions and covenants regarding this kind of thing so that we don’t have to be too (restrictive) with ours,” Dellinger said.
Council on TV
Council members will decide whether there is money in the budget for a technical broadcast system that would provide live and archived broadcasts of City Council meetings.
Justin Sheehan, owner and chief executive officer of Crown Jewel Productions, proposed a transparent government program for $1,700 a month.
The program would include the broadcasts and archives, website and online portal, the ability to host live chats with those watching from home, social media integration and a community engagement page on the Internet.
A less expensive package with only the broadcasts, archives and video hosting would cost $1,200 monthly, Sheehan said.
Mayor Terry McDonald said the council will take some time to further investigate the broadcasting package as well as check into the budgeting aspects of paying for the program before making a final decision.
