Ordinance violations continue to plague town of Medaryville

Residents questioning the town ordinance violations continue to top the agenda for the Medaryville Town Council meetings. 
On June 15, during a regular meeting, the council heard from more residents regarding the recent violations the town has issued. 
One resident asked to make payments on the violation her property acquired while a second asked for a violation lien to be released. 
Kristie Zimmerman made a request to the council to release two liens on the property she owns because she purchased the property during a tax sale and was told by her attorney not to take possession of it until a new deed has been filed. 
During the time of the tax sale and waiting for the deed, the town mowed the property on four different occasions, twice in 2014 and twice in May of 2015. 
According to town attorney Amber Lapaich, the commissioners held a special tax sale on Feb. 5, 2015, so any lien prior to that date would be eliminated and should be removed by law.  
Zimmerman said her family purchased the property on Feb. 5, 2015, and were told at the commissioners’ sale not to touch the property until they received the deed. 
Since then she said her husband and son have been diligent about taking care of the property. She said during the time they waited for the deed, the family did have a tree removed because it was a danger to the neighbor. 
Zimmerman said the tree was removed on May 11 and she had a receipt for the work. According to the photos that the town has when the property was mowed the tree is still in the photo and shouldn’t be according to Zimmerman’s records. 
The liens from 2014 cost $294 and the 2015 liens cost $387.75. If the liens are not released or paid, the county plans to put the property up for another tax sale, according to Zimmerman. 
Council president Robert Schultz said once she entered the property and dropped the tree, “you’ve taken ownership of it.”
Councilwoman Suzanna J. Wilcoxon said she doesn’t believe that Zimmerman should be responsible for the liens because she “technically did not own the property.” 
Schultz said he would like to split the bill with her because the town needs to recoup some of the costs of mowing. 
The lien cannot be split, according to clerk-treasurer Judy Harwood. The lien would have to be released and a new lien in the different amount would have to be filed. 
Schultz said because it can’t be split then she needs to pay it all. 
A motion was approved to release the first lien of $294. 
A motion was made by Wilcoxon to release the second lien of $387.75. It died for a lack of a second. The lien will stand as is. 
Zimmerman said the property is currently for sale. 
Donna Compton requested if she could make payments on the fine that has been applied to her property because of a garbage violation.
Schultz said he doesn’t agree with allowing payments.  
The court could make payment arrangements but there would be additional court costs. 
A motion was approved to give Compton a time extension of two weeks to pay the bill.