Kankakee Times

City of Watseka Code Enforcement Committee met July 8.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

PRESENT: Aldermen Brault, Pence, Muench, Miller, Dewitt, Alderwoman Rohlfs and Mayor Marcier

ABSENT: Aldermen Petersen and Garfield

GUEST: Building Inspector Eric Brandt and Business Owner Victor Torres

Alderman Brault opened the meeting at 6:39 pm. There was no public comment. Building Inspector Eric Brandt reported on the following:

IDNR Flood Mitigation: Eric reported the city now owns 78 properties and he has been in contact with Ron Davis from the state and he sent Eric a booklet of different options that the city could do with those empty DNR lots. The city could put a memorial in them, or a walking path with benches and wildflowers. He will let the members of the committee look at the different options that are available other than just mowing them. There are 30 properties left to demolish

Façade Grant @ 123 N 8th St: New owner Victor Torres stated he is going to use the building as an arcade facility. He will open this up to the public, he is doing some remodeling inside and will paint the outside a neutral color. He is requesting $4836.72 to paint the outside of the building. Alderman Pence makes a motion to recommend to the Council to pay Victor Torres a façade grant of $4836.72 and Alderman Miller seconded. Roll call carried 7-0.

400 N Jefferson St: The contract buyer has been given warning and citations and has been to municipal court, Eric is requesting the contract buyer to get an engineer for the roof because of the type of roof it is and because it dips badly. The contract buyer says he can’t find an engineer for the roof. Eric stated the parking lot needs to be repaved in areas also. Eric did at one point issue a stop work order because he was doing work without a permit.

221 W Hickory St: The city was there to clean the property up. It has been an ongoing issue now for several years. There was an RV there, but the owner did get rid of it. The owner has 9 totes for trash and they are always full. The owner has been given multiple citations and has been to court many times. This has been now turned over to Attorney Cainkar to start foreclosure proceedings.

526 E Locust St: this resident had a garage that was unsafe, they demolished it but left the concrete blocks, Eric went back and talked to them, and they got a dumpster and finished cleaning it all up.

128 E Ash St: this residence is vacant, Eric gave the owner a citation and he paid it and took down the dilapidated garage over the weekend.

429 N 3rd St: this has been a problem yard, it has finally all been cleaned up.

1213 & 1215 Sugar Creek Ct: this is still a work in progress- there is a court date set for July 17th, and after that the property should be able to be demolished

901 N Chicago St: the complaint has been filed with the court system.

209 E Walnut St: the neighbor to the west is interested in buying the lot from the city to put up an outside staircase for the apartments for his building. Eric suggests that the owner of the building clean up his wall and paint it. There is much electrical work that needs to be addressed also to his wall. Eric offered the façade grant to him to help with the painting. The Aldermen agree to have the owner fix the wall and then he could purchase the lot from the city.

E Grant St: there was a short discussion concerning the house that was demolished by a resident but there is still some debris remaining that needs to be picked up. Eric will get in touch with the owner.

Mayor Marcier asked the committee if they had any questions regarding the budget, no one did. He stated if anyone has any comments or questions, they need to be addressed no later than next Tuesday because it needs to be passed at full council this month.

Alderwoman Rohlfs makes a motion to adjourn at 7:05 pm and Alderman Brault seconded. Roll call carried 7-0.

https://www.watsekacity.org/media/4266