The appearance of large piles of dirt and heavy equipment on vacant property along State Road 11 just north of Seymour city limits has some people questioning what is going on.
Members of the Seymour Plan Commission are among those wondering.
The 14.29 acres are owned by Brad Pardieck of BP2 Construction in Seymour and currently are zoned for commercial development.
In 2017, Pardieck requested a land use variance from the plan commission for industrial use to allow him to operate a legal fill site on the property for the disposal and recycling of used construction materials such as concrete, asphalt and dirt.
That request was denied after several residents who live near the site voiced concerns with drainage, noise, dust, property values and other issues during a plan commission meeting.
During that meeting, commission President Don Myers Jr. said he didn’t like the idea of having a dump site visible as people drive into the city.
Myers said the piles of dirt and equipment are evidence Pardieck is continuing his efforts to create the fill site illegally.
“He wasn’t supposed to go through and do anything else at that property, but there is more going on,” Myers said. “I understand that he is going to put his crusher or whatever it is he is going to be doing there no matter what.”
After visiting the site, Myers said he observed a huge pile of boulders, backhoes and bulldozers on the property along with a large dirt berm, which he said is to keep it out of the eyesight of people going by.
“But that wasn’t the entire intent of having this stopped,” he said.
Myers said the city issued a cease and desist order to Pardieck to stop any activity, but Building Commissioner Jeremy Gray said the city has not yet taken that step.
Gray said as far as he can see, Pardieck is just moving dirt on the property at this time, which is not illegal.
Commissioner Mark Hays said he doesn’t believe the ground is low enough to dump concrete and other materials.
Myers said he is concerned with the idea of other communities dumping at the site.
“Seymour isn’t a garbage disposal,” he said.
During a meeting Thursday night, Myers requested city attorney Christina Engleking investigate what legal action the board can take. Pardieck was not at the meeting.
“If she feels like it is a violation, then it is my opinion that we should turn that over to the courts,” Myers said. “To me, this is a blatant violation and a slap in the face to us and also to the law.”
Gray said he agreed Engleking should draft a letter to Pardieck.
The board voted 8-1 to have Engleking look into the matter. Commissioner Gary Colglazier cast the dissenting vote.