Kankakee Times

City of Watseka Code Enforcement Committee met April 11.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

PRESENT: Aldermen Miller, Garfield, Barragree, Cahoe, Marcier, Alderwoman Rohlfs, Mayor Allhands

ABSENT: Alderwoman Musk

GUESTS: Residents George & Donna Fanning and Jennifer Kucher

Alderman Miller opened the meeting at 7:31pm. Residents George & Donna Fanning spoke first during public comment regarding the ordinance about garage sales. They are asking the committee to rescind the ordinance regarding the number of garage sales a resident is allowed to have. They suggested to let residents have more garage sales and attach a fee after the allotted amount. Mayor Allhands suggested they call surrounding communities and see what they do.

Resident Jennifer Kucher from 319 W Park was wanting the committee to hear from her phone a siren that goes off at her neighbor’s house at 325 W Park Ave for 15 seconds at a time. She stated this has been an ongoing problem since Thanksgiving.

Building Inspector Eric Brandt reported on the following projects:

IDNR Flood Mitigation: Eric has 4 more properties to put out for bids in May: 527 N 5th, 124 Brown, 215 W Locust, and 129 W North St

Ordinance Citations: 6 citations, and 12 warnings

Façade Grant: Eric reported McKenzie Walwer from the Headquarters is requesting $5,000 for new windows, Eric stated in September she requested $3500 but never used it, now she is requesting the $5,000. Alderman Marcier makes a motion to recommend to the Council to give a façade grant to the Headquarters for $5,000 and Alderman Miller seconded. Roll call carried 7-0.

904 N Chicago St: the owners have removed some items from the inside but its still a work in progress

309 E Elm St.: Hannah Mitchello is interested in purchasing this city owned lot. Eric has talked to Public Works Director Loren Grovenor and he wants to keep this property as it is along the ditch. The committee is in agreement for the City to continue to own the lot.

Code Enforcement Report:

Crime Free Rentals: 5 inspections have been done this month. A question was asked about if Eric, Bill, Chief Baier and Chief Douglas are all going on these inspections together and Eric stated no its hard to get everyone together at the same time but they do all communicate after and inspection is done.

Inoperable Vehicles: sent out 2 letters of intent to tow, 6 vehicles removed or now incompliance, sent out 8 owner notification letters, and 1 junking certificate was sent to the state.

Other interactions for March: 18 warnings for miscellaneous violations.

There was discussions about the house on West Oak St, the old body shop west of town, and Dougs Doors has until May 25th to demolish his building, Crossroads business on West Hickory is also becoming a nuisance, (Chief Douglas stated he will look into this as he can contact the Secretary of State Police regarding there towing status).

Alderman Garfield reported the city has received the bill from BLH Computers for the electronic recycling that was held in September 2022. The bill was $9,357.05 and a the county will pay for half of this. There was a total of 34,570# hauled away and 19,000# of that was televisions.

Alderman Cahoe stated the owner of the Porky Barn and Gas Depot need to clean up the trees that they cut down because as the water comes and goes the trees and debris move also. Alderman Cahoe stated he has a list of 116 spots that need attention in the city. Alderman Marcier asked Dennis to give this list to Eric and Bill.

Alderman Miller reported the reason he was late tonight was because there was a train on the tracks stopped for 1 hour 20 minutes and what can be done about it?

Mayor Allhands reported in the conference room are books regarding the Illinois Housing Study that will need to be adopted this month and he is asking the committee to look at them.

Alderman Miller makes a motion to adjourn at 8:06 pm and Alderman Garfield seconded. Roll call carried 7-0.

https://www.watsekacity.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/code-enforcement-4-11-23.pdf