Township officials discovered a lot cleared out behind this home on South Congress Street that is being used as an illegal dump for a concrete company.
Tom Perkins | For AnnArbor.com
But the township’s attorney has been unable to locate a key player in the case - the property’s owners.
Officials say Hearns Concrete was discovered to be illegally dumping construction debris, concrete, old vehicles, construction materials, a pool and other items on the parcel, which is heavily wooded and several hundred feet off Congress.
Lincorp Holdings has owned the property and left it undeveloped for 30 years. An approximately 350-foot driveway leads to a 1.5 acre clearing, which is just east of Hewitt Road on the south side of Congress. Officials estimate debris has been dumped there for at least 10 years and concrete is piled up to four feet high at some points.
Chunks of old concrete are piled on a 1.5 acre illegal dump for an Ypsilanti concrete company.
Tom Perkins | For AnnArbor.com
Township attorney Dennis McLain said Lincorp’s last known address is in Toronto, but attempts to serve the company through the mail failed. It was discovered that another Toronto-based company has been paying property taxes on behalf of Lincorp, and the township is now attempting to have that company take pleadings on behalf of Lincorp.
“We haven’t been able to get a hold the property owner, but one would think they would be upset and would want Hearn’s to return the property to its original condition. That involves not just removing concrete, but it also involves restoring trees that have been taken,” McLain said.
An evidentiary hearing is scheduled for June 28 in front of Washtenaw County Circuit Judge Carol Kuhnke. The township is asking that the property be cleared of all its debris.
McLain said the project will be a massive cleanup effort because there is so much concrete and other debris that is spread out in pockets throughout the property.
Ordinance officials have met with the owner of the neighboring home and a Hearns representative to begin discussing the cleanup. McLain said he is pleased the company appears to be cooperating and has begun some cleanup work, but he underscored the size of the project.
“Whether or not the defendants have the ability to comply with everything that needs to be done has yet to be determined,” McLain said.
Messages left for Hearns representatives were not returned.
The site is of particular concern because it lies near the Miller Drain, though McLain said Washtenaw County Drain Commission officials were notified but didn't find any reason to take action.
Tom Perkins is a freelance reporter. Contact the AnnArbor.com news desk at news@annarbor.com.