Published: July 08, 2008 09:54 am            

Charlestown fines Catalina Estates owner $600,000

The Charlestown Board of Public Works fined Catalina Estates trailer park owner Dana Dodge $600,000 on Monday.

Following four years of notices against Dodge, the board decided to take concrete action against for the bad roads, dilapidated buildings and abandoned trailers littering Catalina Estates.

“I think we got his attention today and something will happen — either the trailer park will close or he will fix it,” said Mayor Bob Hall.

Dodge repeatedly gave the city timelines for fixing the roads, debris, empty trailers and rundown buildings in Catalina Estates, but without results. So, the city decided to impose maximum fines against him, Hall said.

Dodge said he is going to the bank to see if he can get financing to fix the problems at the trailer park.

The fines against Dodge were placed retroactively against him, starting with his first serious warning in February. He has 30 days to address the situation or the city will begin collecting the fines.

“We don’t want to hurt people, but that has to get fixed — it’s a mess,” said Building Commissioner

and board member Tony Jackson.

The city is working in conjunction with the Indiana Department of Health, which has cited Dodge for problems at the trailer park. Dodge is expected to appear before the Board of Public Works in August to provide a plan for addressing the issues at Catalina Estates.



In City Council news

• A preliminary engineering study conducted through the city determined the cost to complete the sewer system in the Lakeview/Highview subdivision will be $1.7 million. Hall set up a meeting with Bob White, the state director of the Indiana Rural Development office, to discuss possible grant programs to complete the system.

Hall said he also has spoken with Gov. Mitch Daniels and Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman about funding opportunities, and the city is looking at financing options. The city would likely finance the system, if that is the direction taken, and place a surcharge on bills rather than request a lump sum payment from residents.

• Following a vicious-dog incident, the council is looking into strengthening the city’s dog ordinances and giving the animal control officer greater enforcement and citation authority. The incident occurred when two dogs got loose and bit a child, then attempted to attack the police officer who responded. The officer had to Taser the dog twice to prevent another attack.

That dog will be euthanized, and the second dog’s fate will be decided in court. Councilmen were unable to identify the breed of dogs, but identified them as vicious and aggressive.

Breed-specific restrictions are unlikely because they are very difficult to enforce and rarely are upheld in courts. The city is considering a “vicious-dog ordinance,” though, that would require liability insurance and increased fencing requirements.

• The city will hold a public hearing regarding the annexation of Bethany Hills at 6:30 p.m. July 21, followed by a regular council meeting.

        

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