Published Saturday, October 12, 2002
Herald Staff Writer
A two decade-long tug-of-war between the city of Farrell and garage owner Jack Hardesty appears to be coming to end.
Hardesty, who owned Hardesty's Towing, 315 Roemer Blvd., up until Sept. 1, has stored vehicles, trailers, vehicle parts, axles and other discarded material on lots across Roemer, one of which was owned by the city and the rest by others.
Officials said as many as 100 cars were stored at once.
At times, the city would ask Hardesty to clean up the lots, and he would, but items would start accumulating again.
In recent years, Councilman Rudolph Hammond has pushed for the city to force Hardesty to clean up, calling the condition of the lots a "disgrace."
Besides Hammond, others also have complained, said code enforcement officer Mark Yerskey.
"The last year has been overwhelming," Yerskey said of the complaints that put Hardesty in the city's dog house. "We have to resolve this once and for all.
City officials had been hesitant in the past to push Hardesty because his building was in what was an industrial zone -- it's now in a commercial zone -- and his long standing as a businessman in town. He stayed when many others companies folded or moved.
But things changed when the city bought the 13 lots in the 600 blocks of Darr and Lee avenues, Yerskey said. The city got control of the lots in late September.
"We want to get the lots ready for potential development," Yerskey said. "We want to get the lots cleaned up and secure."
The site is a possible location for a new office for District Justice Henry J. Russo, Hermitage, Yerskey said.
While many of the items have been removed from the lots, the city is putting a little bite into its bark to get the job finished. It sent a letter to Hardesty informing him he has 10 days from receipt of the letter, which was dated Monday, to finish the job, Yerskey said.
If Hardesty, who ran a towing and vehicle repair business, misses the deadline, he could be cited and the remaining cars could be towed with the tow bill sent to Hardesty.
Hardesty said he got the registered letter and knew what it was for, but didn't open it.
Hardesty sold the business to Mike Lowrey, who opened Lowrey Automotive Center, and considers it Lowrey's problem.
Yerskey said he knew the sale was in the offing, but didn't know it had been completed.
While Yerskey praised Hardesty's service to the city, Hardesty said he feels slighted for all those years of working on city vehicles and keeping his business in town.
Hardesty, who opened his business in 1986 and still will offer towing, noted he sold property on Spearman to the city that officials had hoped would be part of a new location for Russo's office.
"They don't recognize all that I gave them," said Hardesty, who has been known to fight like a junkyard dog.
Hardesty said he sold out after tiring of dealings with the city.
"They're all a bunch of retards up there," he said. "After Pacsi, it all went to hell."
Hardesty was referring to former Mayor Eugene C. Pacsi.
Lowrey also got a copy of the letter that was sent to Hardesty, and took it seriously.
"We're trying to make it look nice," he said, acknowledging "There was so many cars here it was ridiculous."
Yerskey said the last time he checked there were about a dozen cars left, but Lowrey said "We basically got it done."
Lowrey said he hopes to have a good relationship with the city.
"It's a hell of a lot easier to get along with people," he said.
You can e-mail Herald Staff Writer Joe Pinchot at
jpinchot@sharonherald.com