Kankakee Times

City of Watseka Code Enforcement Committee met March 8.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

PRESENT: Aldermen Rushbrook, Miller, Barragree, Cahoe, Marcier, Alderwoman Ulfers and Mayor Allhands

ABSENT: Alderman Garfield and Alderwoman Musk

GUEST: Code Enforcement Officer Bill Stanley

Alderman Rushbrook opened the meeting at 6:55 pm. There was no public comment. The following properties were discussed:

DNR Mitigation Grant: still waiting on the state to reimburse the City. 221 W Park, 111 W Juanita, 209 W Maple and 117 E Elm are being demolished this week. Eric will be submitting to the state a request for $167,917.25 for reimbursement.

Façade Grant: Traditions Bar has made their request and has been paid and there have been no new applications received.

Community Rating System: The city has received a plaque and it’s hung on the wall in the lobby.

Sign Ordinance: Alderman Rushbrook stated this will be tabled till next month when Eric will be here.

Code Enforcement Officer Bill Stanley reported on the following:

534 E Walnut St: The owner’s son has taken over and stated he will be cleaning the property up. He has replaced one window and has more on order. The bid to demolish the property is $15,000.

513 E Oak St: This has the same owner at 534 E Walnut

208 N 2nd St: the owner has served the tenant eviction papers but she is still there for now. The owner stated once she is gone, he will demolish the home.

118 W Oak St: the owner has been cited for junk vehicles and for junk in the yard. Ordinance Tows: 2 more vehicles were towed to the impound and more letters have been sent out.

Municipal Court: 14 citations issued for March court, 7 for junk vehicles, 4 for not maintain property, 2 for improper disposal

There was a general discussion of a cardboard business in the downtown area and the stack of pallets at Lyons and the pallets that are showing up on N. 8th St. It was stated the Lyons pallets and the cardboard business are consider a heavy fire load. Fire Chief Baier will work on this problem also. It was stated there are several pallets east of the Park District office also.

The Orange semi on Walnut St was also discussed. Code Enforcement Officer Stanley stated it will cost at least $1,000 to have that towed and he isn’t sure how much the city would recoup to have it junked.

Mayor Allhands stated the Historical Architect finished his inspection of the JC Penney building and the cost to fix the problem is $80,000.

Mayor Allhands also stated he is having a zoom meeting today with Attorney Cainkar and an insurance company.

Alderman Rushbrook makes a motion to adjourn at 7:10 pm and Alderman Barragree seconded. Roll call carried 7-0.

http://www.watsekacity.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/code-enforcement-3-8-22.pdf