PLYMOUTH — In July of last year, city officials ordered the closure and clean up of The Pointe Apartments on Kingston Road in Plymouth. Monday night, the Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety heard news that might mean the clean up may be close to completion.
Anthony Collins, property manager of The Pointe, came before the board to discuss fines for the operation. City of Plymouth Building Inspector Dennis Manuwal was on the agenda to seek guidance for just how much the city will charge for the violation of orders on cleaning up the property. Manuwal had given the owner 30 days for the resolution of the issues as part of his emergency order to vacate on July 29, 2024, due to roof and electrical issues that made the facility dangerous.
The owners of the property had been given 60 days to complete repairs, and Manuwal had imposed a $5000 fine when that did not occur.
Collins and owner Bob Richards have been working to make the needed repairs to get the property up to code. Collins said that repairs have now been completed on the roof, sprinkler system, and lighting, with other electrical repairs and a new water heater. He said the floor had also been replaced throughout the building. He said that the sprinkler system still needed to be tested and the facility was pending Manuwal’s inspection.
Plymouth City Attorney Jeff Houin told the board that a $5000 fine might be outside Indiana statute for a first offense and suggested that the board lower the total to $2500. He said the board has the power to reduce or waive any fines imposed, and Manuwal asked for the board’s guidance on the issue.
Collins said that Richards had spent $250,000 on the repairs and were simply anxious to have the matter finally resolved.
In January of this year, the Marshall County Circuit Court ordered Rich-Mons Group to pay $303,702 in damages and penalties to residents of The Pointe Apartments.
The board voted to suspend the fine until their next meeting and gave Collins until Feb. 27 to have the work and inspections complete.
