Print Story Email Story Discuss Story (3)

Recommend ( 0 )

News-Sun file Gingerlee Mitchelllindo is planning legal action against anyone involved with the removal of the wall around her property, which is scheduled for late December or mid-January.

Related Links

advertisement

published: Sunday, November 18, 2012

City plans wall demolition, owner plans legal fight

By SAMANTHA GHOLAR

sgholar@newssun.com

SEBRING -- No official date has been set for the demolition of the wall located at 503 E. Center Ave. near Sebring Middle School, but city officials say that the wall will indeed come tumbling down soon.

After several years of disputes, civil suits and objections from the property owner Gingerlee Mitchelllindo, the city of Sebring has continued to push forward with the project to take down the wall that encompasses the lot.

Friday afternoon, City Administrator Scott Noethlich confirmed that a pre-quote meeting had occurred the first week of November. The meeting, which was led by engineer company CivilSurv out of Lakeland, brought a number of potential bidders to Mitchelllindo's property to inspect the future project.

City officials, surveyors and engineer teams have long said that Mitchelllindo's wall is encroaching the right of way and line of sight for drivers on South Orange Street who are trying to get onto Center Avenue, causing a hazard to drivers and pedestrians.

The amount of encroachment has changed a number of times, however. It was first said to have been 2 inches, then 2 feet. Mitchelllindo has long felt that the city and its officials have somewhat of a vendetta against her for taking a stance against government officials.

"I'm trying to do everything the legal way, but my legal rights are being trampled on," Mitchelllindo said. "I've been through a lot in my life and I thought I was done, but when the government and people high up do things like this and do wrong and watch others do wrong and don't stand up for the people, then I have a problem."

Mitchelllindo is currently putting the finishing touches on a civil suit and an injunction she has prepared to use as a platform to sue each entity involved in the wall predicament. Mitchelllindo expects to file the lawsuit within the coming days and with hopes of halting the City's plans for demolition.

Sebring's Purchasing Agent, Kirk Zimmerman, confirmed Noethlich's statement of the quote meeting, which brought out a handful of interested potential bidders. According to Mitchelllindo, only two local companies were present, both of which left shortly after the meeting began.

"They won't touch it with a 10-foot pole," said Mitchelllindo. "Same for the attorneys. I've tried getting one, but no one in this county, no one in the surrounding counties (is interested). I've had one attorney from down south take interest but (he) wants $10,000 up front, that's why I'm fighting this myself. I will not stop until they leave my property and me alone or until I'm dead."

Three vendors, EPB Enterprises, EPI and Falcon (each out-of-county companies), showed interest in the project, according to Zimmerman.

The deadline for bids is Nov. 27 at 5 p.m. The demolition is expected to cost less than $15,000. The exact date for the demolition has yet to be set.

"There isn't a date yet. We anticipate that it will be done over the school holiday break. Possibly just after the first of the year or around the Martin Luther King (Jr.) holiday," said Noethlich.