City Officials Take Action Against Neglected Properties
7.22.11

WRTV

INDIANAPOLIS -- Inattentive, irresponsible property owners have been placed on notice by the city's Department of Code Enforcement.
Nine property owners owe the city of Indianapolis more than $88,000, 6News' Derrik Thomas reported.
Vegetation over 12 inches in height is defined as an environmental nuisance. Last year, the city mowed such nuisances more than 10,600 times, officials said.
A property in the 1100 block of North Dearborn Street is one of those nuisances and got mowed last week, officials said.
"I'm 6 (feet) 3 (inches tall), and by the time they got here to cut it, it was taller than me. It was about 8 feet. It was almost to the roof. It started having rodent problems and rats. People would come here and start throwing their garbage off in there," neighbor John Poston said.
The house on Dearborn and another property in the 3900 block of Arquette Drive are owned by Adam Starr. He is one of the nine property owners being sued.
City prosecutor Helen Marchal said the city is seeking compensatory damages for the costs of the mowing, plus fines and punitive damages.
"(The homeowners) have not responded to bills sent by the city. They've not responded to collection notices. We're hoping they will respond to the lawsuit. They will have to appear in court," Marchal said.
According to city records, Starr owes $8,998 dollars for mowing services rendered. Jim Stone lives two doors down from the Arquette Drive house that stands empty and overgrown. He applauds the city's efforts.
"It's quite annoying when you got knee-high grass and you see the neighbors all have theirs cut. It's pretty annoying that some people take care of their property and others don't. They just abandon it. They need to take action against them," Stone said.
Starr and the eight other property owners are expected to appear in court on Sept. 12.

http://www.theindychannel.com/news/28628173/detail.html