White Pigeon building considered condemned

Members of the White Pigeon Village Council voted to condemn adjacent buildings on East Chicago Road, fearing their perilous condition is a public-safety hazard.

The buildings, at 100 and 102 E. Chicago Road, house the Tasty Nut Shop and Silver Spoons Catering. They are owned by Marjorie Hamminga, who has operated Tasty Nut Shop since 1986.

Action to condemn the buildings was taken during the village council’s Dec. 15 meeting.

Hamminga, over the weekend, said she has no intentions of abandoning her business, and has hired a Kalamazoo-based attorney. She plans to appeal two citations issued due to building-code violations.

Nonetheless, both citations have already been filed with St. Joseph County District Court in Centreville. In addition, there is a $500 fine per citation and the village plans to seek restitution for the cost of enforcement.

An appearance is scheduled to take place on or before Jan. 25.

Meanwhile, village president Tyler Royce said White Pigeon’s municipal office – located immediately south of Hamminga’s buildings – has been vacated out of fear for the safety of its workers.

Treasurer Lacie Pletcher has been relocated to a space at White Pigeon Township and a computer maintained by the village’s Department of Public Works has been moved to the DPW garage, where internet service will be added.

Royce said village council meetings will be moved to a yet-to-be-determined location.