VANDERBURGH CO., IN (WFIE) -
Landlords who don't cleanup after meth is found on their properties could soon face fines in Vanderburgh County.
Commissioners took up the issue at their Tuesday night meeting.
There's already a state ordinance that deals with this, but there are several channels local officials have to go through to enforce it. So, they're looking at making that state ordinance a county law as well.
It's a way of saying if you don't obey the state law in Vanderburgh County, there will be penalties involved.
Health department officials say cleaning up after a property has been contaminated is something property owners are supposed to be doing anyway. But since 2009, officials say there have been 43 properties in Vanderburgh County that owners just didn't clean up. Those properties are either vacant or have people inside breathing in toxins.
"If we had a local ordinance that said, you know, if you move somebody into this property and you haven't cleaned it up, that you could either be fined or we could take you to court and say this is against the code, here's a penalty. I think that would stop it in its tracks," Dwayne Caldwell with the Vanderburgh County Health Department.
Health department officials say Evansville Mayor Lloyd Winnecke has also asked them to come up with a similar city ordinance as well. They say that's something they'll begin working on soon.
Meantime, county commissioners will vote on this ordinance at their next meeting.
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Health department officials say cleaning up after a property has been contaminated is something property owners are supposed to be doing anyway.
