Hartford City board backs deed transfer plan for 413 E. Water

Location: Hartford City

From the Hartford City Property Standards Board meeting on Sept. 9, 2026

Hartford City's Property Standards Board voted 3-0 on Sept. 9 to pursue a deed transfer for 413 E. Water and an adjacent lot after the owner side said the family would sign both parcels over to the city.

Board president Ron Dudelston said the board had already upheld a teardown order on the property and city attorney Tyler Rothstein had court paperwork ready if the matter stayed on that track. During the meeting, Nathan Barger said by phone that the family would turn over both the house lot and the adjoining parcel.

Rothstein told the board the transfer could move quickly. He said the paperwork would include a quitclaim deed, sales-disclosure forms, and an agreement putting the transaction in writing. After the vote, Rothstein said the Hartford City Common Council would still need to pass a resolution to accept the deed.

The board then said the turnaround should be about two weeks once the paperwork is received. Barger told members he had spent about $1,400 on roof repair, but no city spending amount was approved for the transfer at this meeting.

Source: Meeting transcript — Hartford City - Property Standards Board Meeting - September 9, 2026

Some information may be inaccurate due to video audio quality.