Town of Cedar Lake
Unsafe Building Department
Regular Meeting Minutes

Call to Order and Roll Call

Chairman Thiel called the meeting to order at 5:33 p.m. and asked those present to rise for the Pledge of Allegiance. Recording Secretary Hajduk called the roll.

With Mr. Parker absent, the two members present constituted a quorum of the three-member Department.

Approval of Minutes

August 19, 2026 Regular Meeting

Motion to approve made by Mr. Layman; seconded by Mr. Thiel.

Motion carries, 2–0.

Active Unsafe

1. 7110 W. 128th Avenue

Okreglak, Tadeusz appeared and stated that a permit application had been faxed to the Building Department on July 15, 2026, with a follow-up sent by email to a staff member (Michelle) on August 27, but that he had not received a response. Building Inspector Gatto explained that a miscommunication had occurred: he had asked Attorney Deutmeyer what conditions should be attached to the permit before issuance, and that inquiry had been mistaken for approval to issue the permit outright.

The Board discussed the appropriate permit term given the property's unsafe designation. Building Inspector Gatto stated he was not comfortable issuing only a 90-day permit given the scope and cost of the project, and recommended the Board rely on periodic progress checks with authority to revoke the permit if work stalls. Attorney Deutmeyer recommended the Board authorize the Building Department to issue a standard one-year permit, but require the property owner to return before the Board on December 16, 2026 to demonstrate progress, with failure to appear or to show progress grounds for revocation under town ordinance.

Motion to authorize the Building Department to issue the permit, conditioned on the property owner returning before the Board on December 16, 2026 to demonstrate progress, made by Mr. Thiel; seconded by Mr. Layman.

Motion carries, 2–0.

2. 14616 Dewey Street

Tom Frick appeared (8008 W. 146th Avenue) and stated that the property's engineer, Glenn Kracht, had been out of town but that a preliminary report had been obtained; she is awaiting his review, signature, and seal before it can be submitted. Building Inspector Gatto stated the sealed report needs to go to Town Engineer Luke Sherry for review, ideally as a digital PDF, and should be sent to Michelle Bower's office. The representative stated she would herself be out of town the following month.

Motion to defer this item for 60 days, with an informal 30-day follow-up, made by Mr. Layman; seconded by Mr. Thiel.

Motion carries, 2–0.

3. 13438 Hilltop

Attorney Deutmeyer reported that the demolition order for this property was prepared and that there has been no further contact with the property's current point of contact since the Board last spoke with her by video conference. He noted a title correction: prior documentation had listed the owner as Grace Heitman, but a title commitment from Fidelity confirmed that her daughter, Deborah Maciaga, has been the sole owner since 2020, following conveyances that cleared her parents' interest and consolidated the three siblings' shares. Attorney Deutmeyer stated notice of the demolition order would be mailed to both the Hilltop address and Deborah Maciaga's separate mailing address on file.

He explained that the order requires the owner to remedy the condition or demolish the structure before October 20, 2026, with a final hearing set for the Board's October 21, 2026 meeting; if no action is taken and the appeal period has run, the town may proceed to demolish. Building Inspector Gatto's most recent inspection of the property was in December 2025.

Motion to enter the demolition order made by Mr. Layman; seconded by Mr. Thiel.

Motion carries, 2–0.

4. 13517 Dewey Street

Attorney Deutmeyer reported this matter is similar to the prior item, with a demolition order prepared for the property owner (Mr. Perez). He stated that additional notice must be sent to the Indiana Department of Revenue, which holds several tax warrants recorded against the property, totaling roughly $23,000 ($223, $917, $1,300, $6,200, $1,800, $5,300, and $7,600 individually). He explained that the property consists of two parcels, only one of which contains the unsafe structure; the demolition order applies to that parcel only, as the second parcel presents no unsafe condition. He advised that any judgment obtained by the town would be enforceable against any property the owner holds in Lake County, and recommended proceeding with the demolition order despite the tax complications, since inaction leaves the property unaddressed. He stated notice would also be sent to the Attorney General's office representing state interests.

Motion to issue the demolition order and to send notice to the Indiana Department of Revenue and the Attorney General's office, made by Mr. Layman; seconded by Mr. Thiel.

Motion carries, 2–0.

5. 7417 W. 134th Court

Aaron Rodgers of Reisenfeld & Associates (2900 North Fifth Street, Terre Haute, Indiana; office also given at 9292 North Meridian Street, Suite 208, Indianapolis) appeared on behalf of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, which acquired the property through foreclosure of a VA-insured loan (Case No. 45D04-2502-MF-000165). He introduced Alana Struther Taylor of VRM, the VA's property management contractor, and John Sandridge, the property's listing agent.

Building Inspector Gatto confirmed the Board's inspection report had been provided to the VA's representatives. Mr. Sandridge and Ms. Taylor explained that a personal property eviction is pending before the prior occupants' belongings can be removed from the home, after which a full cleanup of the house, garage, and yard can proceed. Attorney Deutmeyer noted that the prior occupants had been parties to previous town court proceedings. Ms. Taylor stated the VA received the recorded deed on August 28, 2026, and cannot pursue removal of the remaining personal property until the eviction process concludes; in the meantime, she has authorized lawn maintenance (already underway), boarding of open entry points, garage roof tarping related to storm damage, and fence repair, with additional repairs pending contractor bids.

In response to questions from Attorney Deutmeyer about the underlying legal proceedings, Ms. Taylor stated that VRM intends to pursue a writ of possession through the existing foreclosure case rather than filing a separate eviction complaint. Attorney Deutmeyer noted that foreclosure-related possession proceedings typically take longer than a standard eviction, supporting an estimated 60-day timeline.

Motion to defer this item for 60 days made by Mr. Layman; seconded by Mr. Thiel.

Motion carries, 2–0.

Potential Unsafe

1. 14523 Colfax Place

Building Inspector Gatto reported that this property's exploratory demolition permit has stalled; the garage has been removed and some interior work completed, and the owner is still developing a scope of work for a full repair permit.

Status: No formal action was taken. Mr. Gatto will follow up if no update is received within 30 days.

2. 13040 Polk Street (DePersia)

Jim DePersia (who gave his own address as 13047 Polk Street — note the discrepancy with the property address of record) appeared regarding the existing accessory structure on the property, located close to or over the south property line. He stated he had not yet decided between repairing the existing structure in place, rebuilding it in its current footprint, or pursuing a Board of Zoning Appeals variance to relocate and reconfigure it, and described several options he is considering, including maintaining the current setback distance from a different point on the lot.

Building Inspector Gatto and Chairman Thiel explained that repairing or rebuilding the structure within its existing footprint would not require a variance, but relocating or enlarging it would require Board of Zoning Appeals approval, given the property's tight setbacks. Mr. DePersia asked about the Board of Zoning Appeals process and timeline; Recording Secretary Hajduk stated the filing deadline for the November 12, 2026 BZA meeting is October 2, 2026. Mr. DePersia objected to the property's classification as "unsafe," stating he considers the existing structure structurally sound; Chairman Thiel and Building Inspector Gatto noted that the town's unsafe building ordinance also covers unsightly and blighted conditions, citing a ladder and a tarp currently on the structure.

Motion to move 13040 Polk Street from Potential Unsafe to Active Unsafe, with the property owner to return in 30 days, made by Mr. Layman; seconded by Mr. Thiel.

Motion carries, 2–0.

3. 12912 Hilltop

Chairman Thiel reported that a letter sent June 30, 2026, addressed to the Robert T. Brown Trust, was returned undeliverable, and no further contact has been established. Building Inspector Gatto stated his inspection report is nearly complete.

Status: No formal action was taken; the Board will revisit the item once the inspection report is finished.

Under Permit / Demolition Orders

1. 7204 W. 129th Lane

Building Inspector Gatto reported that he met with the property owner earlier that day. Work has begun, including rebuilding the floor system, with discussion ongoing regarding the walls.

Status: No formal action was taken.

2. 14324 Edison — Town of Cedar Lake

Chairman Thiel provided an update on the town's own demolition project at this address. He reported contacting a demolition contractor (MGD, previously used for a Tyler Street demolition) for a quote, but paused that process pending review by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, since access to the structure crosses a mapped wetland area. He stated DNR staff had indicated that cutting trees for access without ground disturbance would likely require only a minimal, and possibly fee-free, application, while root removal or other ground disturbance would require a more involved permit. He stated he had discussed an alternate access route through a town-owned parcel off Rockland Street with Director of Operations Kubiak, and intends to pursue a permit application assuming the more impactful direct route while keeping the Rockland Street option available. He stated he hopes to complete the demolition by the end of the year or in January, once the ground freezes, and that Director Kubiak estimated the resulting debris at roughly two dumpsters. Chairman Thiel stated he wants the town's own unsafe structure addressed promptly, given the Board's role in requiring the same of private property owners.

Status: No formal action was taken.

Update Items

1. 13713 Parrish Avenue — Diamond Peak Homes LLC

Recording Secretary Hajduk reported that she had emailed the property's new contact but received no response. Chairman Thiel suggested a phone call be attempted instead ahead of the next meeting.

Public Comment

No public comment was received in person or online.

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 6:43 p.m. The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, October 21, 2026, at 5:30 p.m.