La Grange House Cleaned Up After Village Cited Owner

LA GRANGE, IL – La Grange took action over the summer after neighbors publicly complained about rats and code violations at a house on a main thoroughfare.

The house in the 400 block of South La Grange Road has since been cleaned up, the village said.

In early May, neighbor Anne Marie Eischen told the Village Board she had seen rats running up and down her driveway because of the house, which is four doors from the La Grange Historical Society.

Another neighbor, Dan Murdock, complained at the meeting about multiple holes in the roof, tall grass and a fallen-down fence.

Earlier that same day, the village had issued a warning about the tall grass. But the neighbors said many more violations existed.

A few days later, La Grange cited the owner for what it said were numerous code violations, including:

• No proper cover for cistern or catch basin.
• Deteriorated wood lattice.
• Garage door not shut properly, allowing the harboring of animals.
• Garage service door with no lock.
• Peeling paint on garage.
• Missing lattice under front porch.
• Front sidewalk severely cracked and deteriorated.
• Opening on second floor, with probable animal infiltration.
• Siding falling off house.
• Many windows lacking screens.

The village's reports include no indication that rats were on the property.

In an email last week, the village's manager, Jack Knight, said the owner appeared for a hearing on July 16.

A day earlier, an inspection showed substantial improvement to the house and property overall, he said.

That includes maintenance of the landscaping, repairs to holes in the siding and gutters, and the start of exterior painting, Knight said.

"Based on the progress made, the adjudication case was closed, and the owner was assessed a $250 fine, which was paid the same day," he said.

A follow-up inspection was conducted last week and confirmed that the owner had brought the property fully into compliance, Knight said.