Plainfield Resident Urges for Rental Inspections at Village Meeting

Photo: Kelli Bianchi sent this photo of her apartment building to the Plainfield board.

Plainfield Mayor Michael Collins said the board is looking into a rental inspection program after one of its citizens told the board of the conditions she’s living in during its Monday night meeting.

Kelli Bianchi, a resident at 24203 West Ottawa Street in Plainfield, said she wants inspectors to come into apartments.

“We have inspectors for new construction, we have inspectors for commercial (buildings), but we don’t have inspectors for the buildings that are already there and we move in,” Bianchi said.

Bianchi said she lived with an air conditioning unit that leaked into her electrical socket and into a bucket.

In an email to Plainfield trustees, she said her apartment contains black mold, which has made her sick.

Without inspectors, Bianchi said there’s no way for residents to know if buildings are up to code.

Mayor Michael Collins said a rental inspection program is under discussion.

“It is being discussed by village staff,” Collins said.

Property Manager Jim Leto said he’s inspected the unit and did not find mold anywhere.

“If there was, it would be taken care of immediately,” Leto said in a text message.

A message left for property owner Rick Leto was not immediately returned.