Trash court delayed due to director’s death
Jasper — The Dubois County Commissioners were scheduled to hear from the Dubois County Waste District Director Lee Kraft, Jr., this morning regarding a large illegal dumping, but they were forced to delay the proceedings due to Kraft’s death.
Kraft was found at 10:30 a.m. on Monday at his residence. Coroner Tony Matthews has stated he doesn’t suspect any foul play in the director’s death.
In regards to the trash dumping incident, it was reported that the dumping was of such a size that the district had to request assistance from the county highway department for its clean up.
Kayley Payne, 15, of Huntingburg, one of the three individuals named in the incident, was in attendance with her mother and her 17-year-old boyfriend, Ethan Schwoeppe, also of Huntingburg. Schwoeppe was not named in the summons to trash court.
Two other individuals, Cody Putnam and Tiffany Payne, both purported to have moved to Colorado, were also named but did not attend. Tiffany is Kayley’s older sister.
County Attorney Art Nordhoff Jr. explained to Kayley that the county solid waste district had found items with her and her sister’s names among the trash that was cleaned up. He stated due to the Kraft’s absence they would not proceed with trash court today.
Nordhoff informed Kayley that the solid waste district had incurred a large cost in cleaning up the trash. The $500 maximum fine allowed for first time offenses by ordinance would likely not be enough to recoup the cost for the cleanup. To recoup the rest of the cost, the solid waste district will likely take the responsible party(s) to small claims court for the remaining balance after the commissioners assign the fine(s).
Kaylee and the other parties will be called to attend the next Dubois County Commissioners meeting scheduled for 9 a.m., August 5 at the County Annex.
The Dubois County Solid Waste Management District also scheduled an emergency meeting for Tuesday morning at 7:30 a.m. to appoint an interim director of the solid waste district.
