By Joseph Slacian
jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com
WABASH, Ind. – A stop work order issued to the Wabash River Trail committee will not be lifted until later this month.
The Wabash County Plan Commission met Thursday night and agreed to lift the ban. The ban was issued March 20 after it was determined the group worked on the project in a flood plain without receiving the proper permits from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
The DNR issued the permit on Monday, April 3. However, under DNR regulations, the public has 18 days to appeal the decision.
Because of the appeals period, the Plan Commission agreed to lift the ban, but only after the appeal period is through.
Once the period passes and there are no objections, the Plan Commission will lift the ban and issue a local permit.
However, the Plan Commission did fine the WRT for working without the permit, Plan Commission Director Mike Howard said.
Under local regulations, the Commission can fine a group up to $250 per day for a violation. Commission members opted to fine WRT $125 per day from the time the stop work order was issued until the time the permit was granted, which was 15 days.
Howard added that the fine, which totaled $1,875, was suspended pending no further violations within the flood plain be committed by the WRT. If that happens, he said, the fine will be imposed, and other fines could be added.