Town of Cedar Lake
Unsafe Building Commission
Regular Meeting Minutes

Pledge of Allegiance

Mr. Thiel called the meeting to order and led those present in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Roll Call

Approval of Minutes

Minutes of the May 20, 2026 regular meeting were presented for approval.

Motion to approve the May 20, 2026 regular meeting minutes made by Mr. Parker; seconded by Mr. Layman.

Motion carries, 3–0.

Active Unsafe

1. 7204 W. 129th Lane — 30-Day Deferral

Josh Sucec, business partner of the previous point of contact (Daniel), appeared via Zoom. He reported the property has been transferred out of the business entity and into his personal name, as he intends to retain and renovate it. The structure has been boarded up and secured. He indicated he intends to begin renovation as soon as possible but did not have a definitive scope of work or permit timeline to present.

The Board explained that without a defined plan, permit application, or timeline, the property would remain on the agenda with a requirement to appear monthly. Mr. Layman asked whether Josh could have a scope of work and permit application submitted to the Building Department within one week; Josh committed to making it a priority and reaching out immediately.

Motion to defer 7204 W. 129th Lane to the July 15, 2026 meeting made by Mr. Parker; seconded by Mr. Layman.

Motion carries, 3–0.

2. 7110 W. 128th Avenue — 30-Day Deferral

The property owner appeared — Peter (name partially inaudible) — assisted by his brother, who translated. The family discussed both the detached garage and the house on the property.

Garage: The family stated the garage foundation is sound, but the lower portion has deteriorated due to water runoff from a neighboring property’s downspouts having been directed toward the garage for roughly ten years without correction. The family had previously attempted to install a berm to redirect water but were stopped by the Town from doing so.

House: The owner explained that construction was interrupted several years ago following a serious health event, during which the project was placed on hold. Building materials remain on site and the existing foundation is complete and covered, but the most recent building permit has lapsed (having already been renewed the maximum number of times allowed) and the family does not have the financial means at this time to pay for a new permit.

The Board explained it has no mechanism to issue a permit on a deferred-payment or credit basis, and that continued lack of progress creates both an unsafe-structure and an unsightly-nuisance concern that the Town is obligated to address given ongoing neighbor complaints. Discussion turned to whether a demolition order limited to the house (not the garage) might be an appropriate path: the existing foundation would not need to be destroyed, but could instead be filled with dirt, preserving the option for the family to resume construction at a later date once finances allow, while resolving the immediate unsafe condition. The family asked for time to discuss this option and requested the opportunity to return with a plan.

Staff confirmed that, per the Board’s direction at the prior meeting, a title report has already been obtained and a specimen demolition order has been prepared and is available if needed.

Motion to defer 7110 W. 128th Avenue 30 days, directing the family to develop and present a plan (including consideration of a partial demolition limited to the house, with the foundation to be filled rather than removed) at the July 15, 2026 meeting, made by Mr. Parker; seconded by Mr. Layman.

Motion carries, 3–0.

3. 14616 Dewey Street — 30-Day Deferral (Contingent)

Tom Frick (8008 W. 146th Avenue) appeared. Mr. Thiel reported ongoing coordination with the property’s engineer (Glenn, DVG Engineering) to get the required drainage plan submitted to the Building Department; the engineer has confirmed he understands what is needed and is preparing to submit it.

Mr. Frick separately raised a concern regarding an adjacent commercial property that recently added approximately 20 tons of stone fill to its parking lot, apparently without an engineered drainage plan, which he believes is now causing stormwater to sheet-flow onto his property — a problem he did not have after the Town’s street repairs in the area. The Board directed staff to look into whether a permit or engineering review was completed for that neighboring property and to follow up with the Town Engineer and Building Department, rather than requiring Mr. Frick to separately pursue the matter through the Stormwater Board.

Motion to defer 14616 Dewey Street 30 days, contingent on permit issuance — if a permit is obtained before the next meeting, Mr. Frick’s appearance will not be required — made by Mr. Parker; seconded by Mr. Layman.

Motion carries, 3–0.

4. 13438 Hilltop — Title Search and Demolition Order Preparation Directed

No appearance in person or via Zoom; no response received. Mr. Deutmeyer confirmed the property remains titled to Grace Heitman (deceased); no transfer-on-death deed or devolution affidavit has been filed in the approximately two months since the owner’s last appearance, despite this typically being a straightforward process. Given the lack of response or progress, and noting there are currently no other properties in the demolition queue, the Board directed staff to proceed with the same process previously used for a similar property: ordering a title report and preparing a demolition order for future Board consideration.

Motion to direct legal counsel to order a title report and prepare a demolition order for 13438 Hilltop made by Mr. Layman; seconded by Mr. Parker.

Motion carries, 3–0.

Potential Unsafe

1. 13517 Dewey Street — Moved to Active Unsafe

Letter sent February 20, 2026. The unsafe premises report (property owner: Francisco Perez) was completed and reviewed. No response has been received to the original letter.

Motion to move 13517 Dewey Street to Active Unsafe and send notice directing the property owner to appear at the July 15, 2026 meeting made by Mr. Layman; seconded by Mr. Parker.

Motion carries, 3–0.

2. 14523 Colfax Place

Letter sent April 13, 2026. Mr. Gatto reported an exploratory demolition permit was issued and remained available for pickup as of the prior Monday; it was unclear whether it had since been picked up. Mr. Gatto will follow up with the owner to confirm pickup or request an appearance at the next meeting.

Status: Monitoring. No formal action taken.

3. 7409 W. 140th Place — Moved to Active Unsafe; Emergency Demolition Ordered

Letter sent April 13, 2026. Mr. Gatto reported the building permit on file dates to 2017 and has never been renewed, with no inspections since. The structure has been vacant and untouched for an extended period.

Motion to move 7409 W. 140th Place to Active Unsafe made by Mr. Parker; seconded by Mr. Layman.

Motion carries, 3–0.

Condition Assessment

Mr. Gatto reported the structure’s foundation is severely compromised: the basement had approximately five feet of standing water at the time of his site visit; portions of the foundation are open in multiple locations; house wrap is exposed and failing; and the structure appears to be resting on deteriorated wood cribbing rather than a sound foundation. The rear of the structure is fully open and cannot be easily secured or boarded. The certified letter sent to the property was returned unclaimed; regular mail was not returned. Property taxes are past due for the current year’s first installment (prior year was paid), and staff confirmed the property is not at near-term risk of a tax sale.

Emergency Action Discussion

Mr. Deutmeyer advised the Board on the applicable statutory standard: an enforcement authority may take emergency action concerning an unsafe premises, without prior notice or a formal order, upon a finding that such action is necessary to protect the life, safety, or property of others, with the action limited to removing the immediate danger. Mr. Deutmeyer noted the Board is not required to make detailed specific findings beyond that general determination.

Mr. Gatto, when asked directly, stated that if the condition is not addressed and someone were injured given the structure’s condition, that would present a serious problem. He confirmed his professional assessment that the open, flooded basement and structurally compromised foundation pose a danger to anyone who might enter the property, invited or not. The Board discussed the standard timeline for a conventional demolition order (title search, notice, and an affirmation hearing) as likely extending into August at the earliest, and concluded the condition of the structure warranted immediate action rather than following that standard timeline.

Motion finding that emergency action is necessary to protect the life, safety, and property of others, and directing emergency demolition of the structure at 7409 W. 140th Place, made by Mr. Layman; seconded by Mr. Parker.

Motion carries, 3–0. Emergency demolition ORDERED.

4. 13040 Polk Street — 30-Day Deferral (Contingent)

James DePersia appeared and reported an update: rather than proceeding with the house, he has shifted his focus and resources toward rebuilding the garage. The project requires raising the garage floor approximately 12 inches (with corresponding wall and roof adjustments) due to the surrounding street grade having been raised over the years, resulting in chronic flooding — significantly worsened during a recent heavy rain event that also raised lake levels. He reported the existing floor slab is cracked and stated he intends to submit a building permit application, potentially as early as the following morning.

The Board discussed whether the existing (cracked) footing can support the proposed work and directed that Mr. Gatto conduct a site inspection to confirm feasibility before the project proceeds.

Motion to defer 13040 Polk Street 30 days, contingent on Mr. Gatto conducting a site inspection to confirm the proposed garage floor-raising work is feasible on the existing footing — if the inspection is favorable and a permit is obtained before the next meeting, Mr. DePersia’s appearance will not be required — made by Mr. Parker; seconded by Mr. Layman.

Motion carries, 3–0.

5. 7417 W. 134th Court

Letter sent April 13, 2026. The 60-day response window expired June 12, 2026, with no response received. The Board directed Mr. Gatto to prepare a premises report for consideration at the next meeting, after which the item may be moved to Active Unsafe.

Status: No formal action taken. Premises report to be prepared for July 15 meeting.

Under Permit / Demolition Orders

14324 Edison Street — Town of Cedar Lake

No change. Access to the site remains limited by wet ground conditions.

13025 Tyler Street

No update.

Update Items

13713 Parish Avenue — Diamond Peak Homes LLC

No update.

New Item Raised — Potential Unsafe Property

A Board member raised a property in the vicinity of 12912 Hilltop for the Board’s awareness, based on a report from a neighboring resident describing no active electric service, a posted no-trespassing sign, and a red tag on the structure.

Mr. Gatto provided background: approximately five years ago, he and a colleague inspected the property in response to a tenant complaint but found it did not meet the criteria for action at that time. More recently, a report was received that an individual claiming to have purchased the property was performing renovation work without a permit. Upon investigation, windows were found boarded and covered from the inside, interior walls had been removed, and a worker on site indicated he believed a permit had been obtained — though the person who represented herself as the owner was in fact not the owner of record and was unable to pull a permit. A stop-work order has been posted on the property (a through-lot with frontage on two streets) for approximately six weeks with no further activity or response.

Based on county auditor records, the property was identified as 12912 Hilltop, owned by the Robert C. Brown Trust (mailing address: P.O. Box, Crown Point, Indiana).

Public Comment

Mr. Thiel called for public comment three times. No one was online. No public comment was received.

Adjournment

Mr. Thiel adjourned the meeting at 6:44 p.m.