The Lake County Plan Commission has ordered all work to stop on a parcel of land Donald Trump Jr. presented to St. John last month because the company he represented isn’t registered with the state.
Planning Commission Director Ned Kovachevich, in a letter sent to RBCP Investments dated August 18 that the Post-Tribune obtained, ordered the entity to “cease and desist any activity related to the development of the property.” The stop work order is for “illegal activity” at a parcel of land on or about 12863 State Line Road in Cedar Lake. The property is not contiguous to St. John and was transferred to RBCP on July 2, according to the Lake County Assessor’s Office.
“The illegal activity involves the construction of commercial/industrial well-digging and siting by a potentially unlicensed well-digging contractor on the approximate 166.55 acres, more or less, in the unincorporated areas of Lake County,” Kovachevich wrote in the letter. “This type of activity is unacceptable and violates several sections of the Unincorporated Lake County Unified Development Ordinance.”
Donald Trump Jr. visited Portage and St. John July 23 in connection with a pair of projects with which he’s involved. He received a standing ovation from a full St. John Town Hall chamber for his work in securing an easement and water rights agreement for land the town is believed to have annexed, the Post-Tribune previously reported.
Kovachevich’s letter lists an address for RBCP in Covington, Indiana, but a check of the Indiana Secretary of State website reveals that RBCP Investments LLC was registered on August 20 to Stephen Jarzombek, of St. John. When reached Tuesday, Jarzombek declined to comment.
St. John Town Manager Bill Manousopoulos said Tuesday he would respond to the Post-Tribune’s questions by deadline but didn’t. The Post-Tribune asked whether town officials new RBCP wasn’t registered with the state, among other things.
Kovachevich, in the letter, said the town has 15 days to respond to his letter; if it doesn’t, the County Plan Commission “may seek an injunction seeking immediate cessation of any activity and fines and penalties commensurate with the work that has been done.” He told the Post-Tribune Tuesday that he’s been approached by several residents in the area and is curious as to what’s going on with the parcel.
“The County doesn’t regulate well digging because those contractors are regulated by the state,” he said. “We’re looking forward to talking with St. John and finding out what they’re doing.”
Michelle L. Quinn is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
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Michelle L. Quinn
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