The Ellettsville, Indiana, Town Council met
for a Public Hearing at the Town Hall located at 221 N. Sale Street,
Ellettsville concerning an unsafe building on
Council
Members present were David Sorokoty, President; David Drake, Vice-President;
Lisa Combs-Creech, Ray Freetage and Geraldine McIntyre. Also present were Sandra Hash,
Clerk-Treasurer and Mike Spencer, Attorney.
Sandra
Cicchitto, President of Sandelson Properties, Inc. who currently owns the
carwash property; Shawn Milligan and his father Joe Milligan also attended the
meeting. Shawn currently rents the house
next to the carwash and has intentions on purchasing the carwash and house
property.
David Sorokoty explained the
current condition of the carwash is abandoned and there are major concerns
about the building being unsafe due to the risk of histoplasmosis. The Town Council is in the process of looking
at properties that do not comply with Town ordinances and requesting property
owners bring them into compliance. He
added that the Town has contacted Nelson Cicchitto and sent letters about this
property for the last two years requesting the property be kept up. He presented an article from the Journal
about the property written by Karla Frownfelter stating Nelson was planning on
tearing down the building and using the materials but nothing was ever
done. He asked Sandra Cicchitto what her
plans are for the property.
Definition of Histoplasmosis –
“Histoplasmosis is a disease caused when airborne spores of the fungus Histoplasma capsulatum are inhaled into
the lungs, the primary infection site.
This microscopic fungus, which is found throughout the world in river
valleys and soil where bird or bat droppings accumulate, is released into the
air when soil is disturbed by plowing fields, sweeping chicken coops or digging
holes. Histoplasmosis is often so mild that
it produces no apparent symptoms. Any
symptoms that might occur are often similar to those from a common cold. In fact, if you had histoplasmosis symptoms,
you might dismiss them as those from a cold or flu, since the body’s immune
system normally overcomes the infection in a few days without treatment. However, histoplasmosis, even mild cases, can
later cause a serious eye disease called ocular histoplasmosis syndrome (OHS),
a leading cause of vision loss in Americans ages 20 to 40.” Taken from National Eye Institute via the
Internet.
Sandra Cicchitto explained
Sandelson Properties, Inc. purchased 100 acres on
Shawn is a student at
David Sorokoty asked if Shawn
had spoken with INDOT about the road distance to accommodate the cars between
the carwash and the highway and suggested he do so.
Mike Spencer asked what the
time frame was to open the carwash up and what repairs they were planning on
doing as well as how they planned to get rid of the pigeons.
Shawn Milligan stated after
speaking with Sandra and Nelson Cicchitto he assumed the distance was
appropriate since it was previously used as a carwash. He said being a
student, he is only able to work on it on
the weekends and depending on his father’s work schedule with the other
carwashes he estimated by the end of the year or next spring it should be
operational. He showed pictures of how
it currently looks and a design with the improvements he is planning including
the new roof Sandra and Nelson are giving him.
Joe Milligan said it could
open by December if the highway is finished.
They are planning on painting the carwash and the home but do not want
to paint until the road is complete because of all of the dust in the air from
the construction.
Dana Kerr, Bynum Fanyo
Environmental stated he was asked to look at the building specifically because of
the birds. When he visited the site in
August, 18-20 pigeons that were roosting flew off. There were bird droppings in the bays and on
the exterior of the building walls.
There is a risk of histoplasmosis in bird droppings which is a health
concern and went on to explain the risks of the disease. He suggested the best way to remove it would
be to moisten the area first by spraying a mist of water and detergent mixed to
help keep it contained and then remove it.
The person cleaning up the site should wear protective eye and
respiratory gear. A dry method of
sweeping or power washing is not recommended because it spreads the disease
spores. He suggested exclusion from
anyone entering the building if clean up will not take place soon. He added that Asbestos clean up workers would
know how to handle the clean up because asbestos is also contracted through the
respiratory system. Testing for “histo”
is a long process, a couple of months, since several cultures have to be grown
to test for it, therefore, areas wherever it is suspected to be are treated now
as if “histo” has been found.
Mike Spencer questioned what
should be done to the property in the four to six month interim that the
carwash is not operational.
Dana Kerr said if the
droppings could be cleaned up that would be a good idea. Currently there are no standard guidelines to
follow when cleaning up “histo” but he suggested the best way when cleaning up
the soil is to remove the top 12 to 18 inches because the fungus can extend
fairly deep into the soil and then replace it with fresh soil. The contaminated soil should then be put in a
drum and sealed then taken to the Landfill, informing the person it is given to
so that it can be put in the special waste area. He said if there isn’t soil where the bird
droppings fall on then there is a less likely possibility that “histo” is
present. However, if it is not cleaned
up soon then restrictions to the access the building should be limited and
signs should be posted stating that “histo” may be present with a phone number
to call. If the “histo” can be cleaned
up soon then bird deterrents should be installed such as a mechanism with
warning sounds to scare off the birds or fake owls. He closed by saying constant activity is the
main thing that keeps birds away.
Lisa Creech spoke to Dr.
Howe with Indiana Department of Health and he said the disease could be carried
in the air easily and she’s concerned that the “histo” is traveling through the
air. She stated there are a couple of
confirmed cases of histoplasmosis in the area.
She’s okay with taking four to six months to renovate the property but
would like the possible “histo” problem be taken care of now.
Shawn Milligan explained the
bays have already being washed out and due to the increase in cleaning activity
and weed removal the number of pigeons has already decreased. He is looking into relocating the remaining
ten or so pigeons and putting up bird deterrents. They will add chicken wire to the areas the
birds roost on to keep them from perching in those areas plus the new roof
should be on in thirty days.
Joe Milligan stated the
equipment should also be operational within the first month. They will paint in the spring after the road
construction is complete. Then they will
turn on the Utilities when the carwash is officially opened and can generate
income.
Sandra Cicchitto stated the State
had bought the rights to use the front of the carwash as a staging area which
was another reason why nothing had been done with the property.
The property is mostly concrete with only a
few areas with soil where the weeds grow.
David Sorokoty (stepped out to
call Jerry Barnes on his cell phone about the road distance) Jerry stated he is
ninety percent sure that they will not have enough room to operate from off of
the highway. Jerry asked Shawn, Sandra
or Joe to call him to discuss this further.
Joe Milligan clarified how to
enter and exit the site explaining the western entrance is a double-wide inlet
access road which leads past the vacuums then cars have to circle
around back into the bays and exist out
through the single lane road on to the highway.
The staging/waiting area will be next to the house and vacuums.
Mike Spencer said the
original Order was to tear down the carwash and now there are three choices
which are to affirm the order, modify the order down or continue the
hearing.
David Drake said it has been
an eyesore for some time but the histoplasmosis is the main problem. He suggested the Council modify the order by
requiring them to remove the risk of histoplasmosis by cleaning up the bird
droppings in a given amount of time but allow them the opportunity to make the
improvements before any action is taken against them. He wants to encourage individuals who wish to
start or renovate a business in Ellettsville.
Joe Milligan said the
majority of the property is currently concrete except behind the building where
there is a gravel drive plus only one other area has gravel. This gravel path is past the high bay but the
birds wouldn’t have affected this area.
In general, there isn’t very much dirt that could be contaminated. In the areas where there’s gravel there is
some dirt accumulation which they are planning on concreting and it is his
understanding if he takes that gravel down so far then concretes the area and
removes the dirt three to four feet from the over hang this should take care of
the problem. They are planning to have
the health concerns taken care by the end of October.
Dana Kerr stated if it’s
to be concreted then there’s no need to go down any farther than needed to put
in the concrete. He also reminded them
that they should put up the chicken wire to prevent the birds from roosting on top
of the walls and add the other bird deterrents.
Geraldine McIntyre suggested that
they call Monroe County Landfill at 349-2020 and speak to Melissa or the other
gentleman in charge when they are ready to haul off the contaminated soil to
inform them of the possibility of histoplasmosis.
Mike Spencer suggested
setting another Hearing in November to check on their progress. He added once they secure the histoplasmosis
issue with the soil that will take care of the problem and it no longer is
considered an unsafe building. Then the
Town wouldn’t need to take any further action.
David Sorokoty concluded the
Hearing by saying they may ask Mr. Kerr to visit the carwash again to verify
that the work that is supposed to be done has been taken care of. He reiterated that they need to take care of
the histoplasmosis problem and that a new Hearing would be in set in
November. We look forward to the new
carwash. He closed the Hearing stating
it was a pleasure meeting everyone and thanked them for attending the
Hearing. The Hearing ended at 6:10 pm.
HEARING RESULTS: Joe and Shawn Milligan have until the end of
October 2003 to get rid of the risk of histoplasmosis which involves removing
the dirt that has accumulated in the graveled areas and the dirt three or four
feet from the overhang then concrete the currently graveled areas as well as
install bird deterrents. A new Hearing
will be set in November to check on their progress. If they have completed the task of cleaning
up the “histo” by the November Hearing then no further action is needed from
the Town. The Milligans plan to have the
carwash operational by December 2003 or the spring of 2004.