State Road 26 Junk-Vehicle Fight Awaits County Review
From the Blackford County Commissioners meeting on October 5, 2026
A dispute over junk vehicles on State Road 26 ended without action Monday after Blackford County commissioners said they wanted more internal review before deciding how ordinance 2016-02 should be enforced.
Attorney Dean Young, speaking for Terry and Linda Smith, told commissioners the county should require removal of the vehicles rather than let the property owner cure the violation with a fence or other barrier. Young argued the sheriff was right to open enforcement but wrong to offer screening as a fix. He also said the property could raise separate Area Plan restrictions on junkyards and salvage yards in agricultural areas.
Later in the meeting, after Young asked where the matter stood, one commissioner said the county should first confer with the sheriff's office, Area Plan staff, and the county attorney. That commissioner said he believed the ordinance had likely been applied or interpreted improperly in this case, but wanted the county to "make it right the first time."
No corrective vote was taken.
Source: Meeting transcript — Blackford County - County Commissioner Meeting - October 05, 2026
Some information may be inaccurate due to video audio quality.
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