By Dan Spalding
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — Two social service agencies are working to fit out an apartment for an elderly man who lived in deplorable conditions in a house on South Union Street in Warsaw.

Darwin Busz’s house at 316 S. Union St. had fallen into disrepair and was a constant concern for city ​​code enforcement workers for over a year.

On Tuesday, April 5, the city learned that an apartment has been reserved for Busz at 802 Center, the new senior housing complex at 802 E. Center St. It comes at the same time the South Union Street home is about to be sold.

The arrangement came after the city contacted Adult Protective Services, which then worked with the Bowen Center.

A protection service for adults social worker worked with Busz and the Bowen Center, which helped him find an apartment and get the paperwork together, according to Rob Hurford, the city’s building inspector.

Hurford said if the city receives a purchase agreement for the house and a move-in date for the apartment, it could likely close the deal as early as next month.

“I think it will be good for everyone,” Hurford said. “It will be good for him. The buyers will rehabilitate the house and have it fixed, which will make the town happy. And it will be a good house for someone.

The city was first alerted to the property after police investigated drug activity in the house and found people living there without running water or heating.

The Warsaw Housing Authority then became involved and worked with a contractor to make repairs, but the workers hesitated at one point due to some of the apparent activity going on in the house.

The city conducted another inspection and then contacted Adult Protective Services due to the poor living conditions.

In another case, Code Enforcement Hearing Officer Tom Earhart is specifically asking the owner of Skyteam Properties to appear at the next Code Enforcement Hearing.

City code enforcement originally had issues with two Skyteam properties; one of them has since been repaired.

Progress in addressing code violations at a Skyteam Property apartment building at 303 S. Indiana St., however, continues to drag on despite fines of $4,100 in recent months.

That includes a $1,000 fine levied on Tuesday for two persistent code violations.

Earhart specifically requests that Skyteam Property owner John Fussle attend the May 17 meeting to provide an update.

In previous meetings, code enforcement has worked with Skyteam’s attorney and a manager.