Building code violations concerning health and safety issues prompted Oakland County Sheriff’s deputies to bring an antiques auction being conducted in the former Odyssey Industries building (665 N. Lapeer Rd.) to an abrupt end Saturday morning.
An estimated 100-150 people attending the auction were ordered to immediately leave because the company conducting it, the Lapeer-based Midwest Auction Galleries, apparently failed to obtain all the necessary permits and inspections from Oxford Township’s building and fire departments.
‘They had no permits,? said Asst. Fire Chief Pete Scholz, who was alerted to the situation when he noticed all the vehicles as he drove by. ‘They basically moved into a vacant building, did all the renovation on it and never pulled any permits.?
James Amato, who is listed on the sheriff’s report as the owner of Midwest Auction Galleries, could not be reached for comment.
The auction was being conducted in the southeast corner of the former Odyssey building, a 210,000-square-foot facility located on the west side of M-24 across from Meijer. A variety of different businesses currently lease space in the former industrial facility, which used to be owned by Sea Ray.
Because no building or electrical permits were ever pulled by Midwest Auction Galleries, no inspections were ever conducted by the township’s building department and no certificate of occupancy was ever issued, according to Scholz.
Scholz said the fire department never inspected the building to establish its maximum occupancy, i.e. how many people can safely be inside the facility at one time.
‘The biggest concern is safety,? he said. ‘You get that many people in there, something goes wrong and it’s never been inspected, never been certified by anybody, then it falls back on our responsibility and the township’s responsibility.?
According to Scholz, the fire department was never given the opportunity to check the placement of extinguishers, make sure the fire suppression system is up-to-date and operational, test fire alarms or ensure there’s an adequate number of marked exits with clear paths leading to them.
A stop work order was issued by the township in January when Scholz said it was discovered interior renovations had already been done without any permits.
Midwest Auction Galleries was informed at that time it could not occupy the building until the necessary permits were pulled and inspections were conducted.
Scholz said the auction company was told everything it needed to do to comply and was even given a checklist.
Last week, a representative from Midwest Auction Galleries approached both the fire department and township about temporarily using the building to host an auction.
The company was again told it would not be granted occupancy until all the proper procedures were followed.
Scholz said Midwest Auction Galleries was ‘given numerous notices? and ‘basically never did anything.?