State says Corvair collector not licensed

GASTON, Ind. — The Indiana Secretary of State's office says a Chevrolet Corvair collector cited for local zoning violations also has not obtained a state license.

Michael Mckeel was cited for allegedly operating an auto salvage yard without having first obtained a "special use" from the Metropolitan Board of Zoning Appeals.

Aerial photographs indicate indicate 200 or so vehicles, mostly Corvairs, on Mckeel's rural Gaston property. He reportedly has been accumulating the cars there for 40 years.

There are more than 360 licensed auto salvage recyclers in Indiana, according to the secretary of state's database, but Mckeel isn't one of them.

He declined comment to The Star Press this week, so it's uncertain what he's doing with the vehicles. But it appears he needs to be licensed.

"The requirements to be a salvage recycler are spelled out in Indiana Code 9-32-9-1," Valerie Warycha, a spokesperson for Secretary of State Connie Lawson, told The Star Press. "If he meets these requirements, then he is required to get a license."

A person who salvages vehicles must be licensed if he sells major components of used vehicles; wrecks or dismantles vehicles for resale of major components; rebuilds wrecked or dismantled vehicles; possesses more than two inoperable vehicles subject to registration for more than 30 days; or engages in the business of storing, disposing, salvaging or recycling vehicles, vehicle hulks or parts of vehicles.

The county cited Mckeel for an illegal auto salvage yard, the definition of which includes storing, handling or disassembling vehicles that are not in running condition. 

"This started with a complaint to the board of health about water quality," said city-county planner Fred Daniel.

"When we receive a complaint against an alleged unlicensed salvage dealer, we reach out to the alleged unlicensed dealer and schedule a time to meet them at the location of the salvage lot," Warycha told The Star Press. "If the examiner determines that there is salvage activity on the lot that requires a license, then we will work with the dealer to become licensed. If they do not want to become licensed, then we would inform them that they can no longer operate in a manner that requires licensure.  At that point, if they are unresponsive, then our office would issue a cease and desist order.  Once such an order is issued, we would send it to the Indiana State Police as well."

The fee for an initial automotive salvage recycler license is $10. The application for a license must include a national criminal history background check, a $25,000 surety bond, insurance (certificate of liability), a zoning affidavit, a registered retail merchant certificate, and a federal identification number provided by the IRS.

The zoning affidavit, to be completed by a zoning official, certifies that the salvage recycling property complies with local zoning ordinances.

According to Daniel, an auto salvage yard cannot be within 350 feet of a road. McKeel's salvage yard is 100 feet from the road. In addition, a salvage yard cannot be within 500 feet of a dwelling. McKeel's cars are closer than that to six dwellings, including one only 50 feet away.

"He's online and I think he sells parts and autos through that," neighbor David Smith said of Mckeel this week. "I see them bringing vehicles in and out."

Some of the cars are stored in long buildings that formerly served as chicken houses, Smith said.

After zoning officials learned of the cars, McKeel filed an application for a "special use" for an auto salvage yard in hopes of keeping them on site.

Several dozen neighbors have signed a petition opposing the application on grounds that the cars are stored behind a house that is not in livable condition "and now they want to turn it into a salvage yard"; it's an eyesore; it's a "junk yard" harboring rats and wild animals; the McKeels don't reside on the property; it is reducing the values of surrounding properties; and it's a source of pollution.

The city-county planning commission has scheduled a hearing on the application for July 6.

REWIND: Corvair collector cited

Contact Seth Slabaugh at (765) 213-5834.