Town of Cedar Lake
Unsafe Building Department
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 July 15, 2026 regular meeting were presented for approval.

Motion to approve the July 15, 2026 regular meeting minutes made by Mr. Parker; seconded by Mr. Layman.

Motion carries, 3–0.

Active Unsafe

1. 7110 W. 128th Avenue — Legal Directed to Begin Demolition Order Process

Permit has not been submitted. The property owner did not appear (Okreglak, Tadeusz), despite the Board's understanding at the prior meeting that he intended to come in with a completed permit application. Mr. Gatto confirmed no deadline had been formally communicated beyond "before the next meeting."

The Board discussed available options, including precedent from a similar case (a Tyler Street property) where a demolition contractor from Illinois provided a reasonable quote (approximately $10,000) for a comparable structure; this contractor may be a viable option going forward. Mr. Parker noted the Board has, in some past cases, demolished a structure to the foundation, filled the foundation with sand, and placed a lien on the property for the cost. The Board also discussed whether an accompanying garage would need to come down as well, noting the Board does not have a strict standing policy requiring garage removal on a vacant lot, though it has generally been treated as standard practice.

Given the property has now been an open matter for approximately seven years, and given the standard demolition order process (title work, notice, affirmation hearing) would extend well beyond another 30-day deferral, the Board agreed to direct legal counsel to begin preparing a demolition order now, in parallel with sending an additional certified letter giving the owner a further opportunity to respond.

Motion to direct legal counsel to begin the demolition order process for 7110 W. 128th Avenue made by Mr. Parker; seconded by Mr. Layman.

Motion carries, 3–0.

2. 14616 Dewey Street — 30-Day Deferral

Tom Frick (8008 W. 146th Avenue) appeared. He reported that after the last meeting he attended, he visited DVG Engineering (Glenn) with the Building Department's marked-up comments (from Town Engineer Luke Sherry) regarding the required drainage plan, obtained near the beginning of this month via Tim Kubiak. DBG is preparing a corrected drawing; Mr. Frick did not have a firm timeline for completion, describing ongoing miscommunication between himself, the Building Department, and the engineer regarding who was responsible for following up with whom.

Motion to defer 14616 Dewey Street 30 days made by Mr. Parker; seconded by Mr. Layman.

Motion carries, 3–0.

3. 13438 Hilltop — 30-Day Deferral

No appearance. The title report ordered in connection with demolition order preparation has not yet been returned; no contact has been received from any party connected to the estate.

Motion to defer 13438 Hilltop 30 days made by Mr. Parker; seconded by Mr. Layman.

Motion carries, 3–0.

4. 13517 Dewey Street — 30-Day Deferral

No appearance. Title report and demolition order preparation, previously directed to legal counsel, remain outstanding; no update available from legal at this time.

Motion to defer 13517 Dewey Street 30 days made by Mr. Parker; seconded by Mr. Layman.

Motion carries, 3–0.

5. 7409 W. 140th Place — 60-Day Deferral (Contingent)

This item was an emergency demolition follow-up regarding securing the property. The property owner's son appeared on behalf of his father, who does not speak English. The family purchased the property approximately five years ago; the son explained the original 2017 building permit had been pulled by a prior owner and was never completed or renewed before their purchase.

The family confirmed the open rear wall (identified in the June 17 emergency action) has been boarded, and Mr. Gatto confirmed on a recent site visit that the basement stairwell had also been secured as directed. The family has been maintaining the property (mowing, cleanup, utility payments) but has not performed interior work, understanding they need a permit first. They expressed a sincere desire to bring the home up to code and move in, ideally by the end of the year, and asked the Board for guidance on the permitting process, noting they recently immigrated from Vietnam and are still learning the applicable procedures.

Mr. Parker walked the family through the process: they will need to meet on-site with Mr. Gatto, who will provide a defined scope of work; once that scope is understood and agreed, they can pull an owner-occupant permit, which allows a homeowner to self-perform all trades, including electrical and plumbing, on their own residence. He noted that once a permit is pulled, consistent progress must be shown, though permits may be renewed. Board members expressed appreciation for the family's proactive communication, prompt securing of the structure, and cooperative approach.

Given the son's school schedule (currently attending Purdue, generally available after 3:30 p.m. on weekdays) and the need to coordinate a meeting where a family member fluent in English can help communicate scope of work with the Building Department, the Board agreed a 60-day window (rather than the standard 30) was more realistic.

Motion to defer 7409 W. 140th Place 60 days, contingent on the family obtaining a building permit — if a permit is obtained before the next meeting, their appearance will not be required — made by Mr. Layman; seconded by Mr. Parker.

Motion carries, 3–0.

6. 7417 W. 134th Court — 30-Day Deferral

Mr. Gatto had previously emailed the Board (July 23) asking whether it was appropriate to contact the property manager directly, given the property manager is not the owner of record (the property is VA-owned following mortgage default). Mr. Parker advised that contacting the management company is standard and appropriate practice — the Building Department does not need separate authorization from the VA to make that request, as the management company holds general authority to act on the owner's behalf.

Discussion noted the property (a large house, with an accompanying pole-barn-style garage) still shows signs of active electric service, which the Board found somewhat unusual for a foreclosure property; possible explanations discussed included a sump pump. The Board expressed a preference to pursue securing/cleanup through the property manager rather than proceeding toward demolition, given VA-owned foreclosure properties in this area have historically sold within about a year, and veterans are typically given priority to purchase such properties.

Motion to defer 7417 W. 134th Court 30 days, with Mr. Gatto to contact the property manager to request the property be secured and cleaned up, made by Mr. Parker; seconded by Mr. Layman.

Motion carries, 3–0.

Potential Unsafe

1. 14523 Colfax Place

Mr. Gatto reported the property owner has an exploratory demolition permit, has removed the garage, and is developing a scope of work for the full repair permit. No formal action needed; the item remains off Active status and will only proceed there if the process stalls.

2. 13040 Polk Street (DePersia)

Mr. DePersia did not appear and no contact has been received since the last meeting. No unsafe premises report has yet been prepared for this property (it has never been formally moved to Active status). The Board directed Mr. Gatto to prepare the report before the next meeting and directed Ms. Hajduk to send a further notice to Mr. DePersia, so that if no response is received, the Board will have the necessary report in hand to consider moving the item to Active Unsafe next month.

Instruction only; no vote required.

3. 12912 Hilltop

Letter sent June 30, 2026, was returned undeliverable; it had been addressed to the Robert C. Brown Trust at a P.O. Box in Crown Point. Mr. Carnahan (present informally) noted a neighboring resident has raised repeated concerns about the property and understands the owner may still reside in a nursing home, though the neighbor also indicated possible recent ownership changes that have not yet been confirmed in county records. The Board directed staff to re-verify current ownership (GIS/county auditor records can lag actual transfers) and directed Mr. Gatto to prepare a report ahead of the next meeting.

Instruction only; no vote required.

Under Permit / Demolition Orders

1. 7204 W. 129th Lane

Mr. Gatto confirmed the permit for this property was properly picked up; the project was transferred out of the associated business entity into the owner's personal name, consistent with prior direction. No further action needed.

2. 14324 Edison Street (Town of Cedar Lake)

No change. Site access remains limited by ongoing wet conditions following recent storms.

Update Items

13713 Parrish Avenue (Diamond Peak Homes LLC): The Town's prior contact, Michael Herbers, is no longer with the company; a new company representative has since been identified. The Board requested this new contact be invited to appear at the next meeting to provide a status update on Diamond Peak's previously discussed conceptual plans (from roughly a year ago) to convert the property into a residence — noted at the time as an atypical, niche concept. Mr. Thiel asked that Mr. Carnahan and Mr. Parker, both also involved with the Plan Commission, relay any update to that body as well.

Public Comment

Jeremy Stender — 7206 W. 128th Lane

Mr. Stender appeared via Zoom, initially believing his concern was the docketed item at 7204 W. 129th Lane (Under Permit/Demolition Orders, Item 1); the Board clarified this is a different, unrelated property where the permit process is proceeding properly.

Mr. Stender's actual concern involves a neighboring property at 7204 W. 128th Lane [address to be confirmed], not currently on the Department's tracking list. He reported: multiple tarps have covered the roof for at least five years; raccoons have entered through a hole in the exterior wall and can be heard fighting at night; the lawn is infrequently maintained, and poison ivy from the property has repeatedly spread onto his fence, causing him recurring poison ivy exposure (three to four weeks at a time) multiple times over five years; the home is occupied, and mold odor is detectable from the street.

The Board explained its standard process for a new complaint: an initial letter is sent to the property owner (signed by the Chairman) giving 60 days to make contact with the Building Department; if there is no response within that window, an unsafe premises report is prepared and the item is formally moved to Active Unsafe, at which point certified notice requiring an appearance is sent. The Board committed to having Ms. Hajduk draft the letter for Mr. Thiel's signature by the end of the week.

Mr. Stender asked how he should follow up; the Board advised the property owner would not be required to appear until the 60-day window has elapsed, with the relevant future meeting likely being October 21, 2026. Ms. Hajduk confirmed she has his contact information and a new Zoom link will be sent automatically ahead of that meeting.

No further public comment was received.

Adjournment

There being no further business, Mr. Thiel adjourned the meeting at approximately 6:34 p.m.