Recordpub.com - Teardown order for Mangiamo

By Matt Fredmonsky

Record-Courier staff writer

The owners of the fire-damaged Mangiamo restaurant in Twin Lakes have until the end of September to demolish the building, which remains standing after a Memorial Day fire gutted the structure.

The three-owner partnership, known as State Route 43 Holdings, is being pressured by the county, Franklin Township, surrounding residents and business owners to raze the 19th century landmark.

Robert Wrentmore, Portage County's chief building official, issued a letter to the owners informing them of a Sept. 30 deadline for demolishing the fire damaged building.

"After my on-site inspection, I have determined the structure is unsafe ... and shall be razed within 30 days of receipt of this letter, but no later than Sept. 30," Wrentmore wrote in the Aug. 27 letter. "We are saddened by the loss of a fine restaurant such as Mangiamo and hope you can now move forward to demolition and cleanup."

The initial results of a preliminary investigation into the fire by the Kent Fire Department, Portage County Sheriff's Office and State Fire Marshal's Office concluded the fire was deliberately set by an arsonist. No one has been charged, and the investigation continues with the state fire marshal's office acting as the lead agency.

Mike Beder, a co-owner in the restaurant operation, said the lengthy investigation has kept him and fellow owners Aaron Ruggles and Dave Tribuzzo from demolishing the building.

"If it was up to us, we'd have had this place down months ago, but the investigation was still going on and there was nothing we could do about it," Beder said. "It's really more so an insurance issue, because we have some coverage in our insurance policy that covers the building being taken down."

The problem, Beder said, is the on-going investigation is keeping his insurance company from paying the owners a damage claim and demolition costs. But the lack of funds from the partnership's insurance company may no longer hold up the former eatery's demolition.

Franklin Township Trustee Mark Beckwith said the township is weighing its options for razing the building and receiving reimbursement from the owners for the cost.

"The process is slow, our zoning inspector is following the letter of the law," Beckwith said. "Initially we thought insurance was going to take care of it and that it would already be done. We're very frustrated. It's an eyesore; it's dangerous, and certainly the township doesn't want to get stuck with a large bill, but we may have to pay and then be reimbursed."

Beckwith said estimates have averaged around $30,000 for the demolition, which could take several months for the township to initiate.

Inquiries about the building's fate have trickled into township officials along with complaints about its safety and appearance. The building's remains also have become a question among patrons to the Rusty Nail, which is located on the same lot behind the Mangiamo building.

Portage County Sheriff Duane Kaley said his office initially responded to the suspected arson but is no longer investigating.

"The state fire marshal is conducting the investigation as far as that goes," he said. "Arson investigations are not easy, as you can well imagine. You're sifting through a great deal of material to try to find the cause of origin. Certainly they can be lengthy cases."

The state fire marshal's inspector in charge of the case could not be reached for comment.

Kent Fire Chief James Williams said he is not sure when the investigation will come to a conclusion because polygraphs still are being processed for the building owners to rule them out as suspects.

"Really at this point we are kind of in a holding pattern," Williams said.

4.	Posted by tellnitlikeitis September 8, 2008
	cactus where in the article do you read anything about kent police? If we're all reading the same article than you don't. Also let me say that the sheriff's department does not employ arson investigators. That's a specialized field that requires years of training. It is standard operating procedure to have the State Fire Marshall's Office conduct the investigation(that is kinda what they do). And that goes for arson's that happen in anybody's jurisdiction. And as for kaley I do think we need a new sheriff and administration and will be voting for Doak this year, but just wanted to clarify. kaley has enough things we can blame him about that we don't need to blame him for things that aren't in his control. But I did see him out campaigning in my neighborhood the other day during hours that he would normally be working (and I use the term loosely) so am I to assume that not only are we paying for his campaign but he's being paid to go out and solicit votes. I think that he should have to campaign on his own time.

2.	Posted by mbeder September 8, 2008
	The sole reason this building isn't leveled and the investigation is still open is because of the Portage County Sheriff's Office. They were the lead investigators on this case, and it was taken over by the State Fire Marshall's Office at the request of concerned officials because of zero response or action from the Sheriff. MONTHS passed with absolutely no action or response from the Sheriff's offce. Kaley & certain members of his staff continue to show no regard for their duties and the taxpayers who employ them. I ignorantly voted for Kaley in the past. You see his name in the paper for busting a meth lab every few months and think they must be working. The truth is that if you talk to ANYONE who needed them to investigate a crime or handle a situation for them and you will get nothing but negative responses. They don't care if lives are ruined as long as they don't have to get out of their well-worn desk chairs and actually do their job. They would not survive a day in the private sector with their current work ethic. I guess we will get to prove this theory come Novemeber.