Beecher to Seek Legal Advice on Chronic Nuisance Property After Years of Complaints

Article Summary: The Beecher Village Board is exploring stronger legal options, including a possible circuit court injunction, to address a chronic nuisance property on Catalpa Street. A neighboring resident voiced frustration over the nine-year issue, which involves persistent dog feces on a deck, junk in the yard, and an unresponsive property owner who has ignored dozens of citations.

Village of Beecher Key Points:

• A resident detailed a long-standing issue with a neighboring property, citing foul odors from dog waste that permeate the neighborhood.

• Police Chief Terry Lemming reported that over 25 tickets have been issued, but fines go unpaid and the problems persist.

• The board has directed its attorney to explore further legal action, as standard code enforcement measures have proven ineffective.

BEECHER – After years of complaints, citations, and court appearances have failed to resolve an ongoing public nuisance issue at a property on Catalpa Street, the Village of Beecher is now considering escalating its legal strategy.

During the village board’s June 9 meeting, President Marcy Meyer addressed a letter from a resident who described a nine-year struggle living next to the property. Key issues include the neighbors’ dogs using a wooden deck as a toilet, creating a powerful odor that affects the entire block, and general disarray in the yard.

“The deck, you can’t get the smell out of it anymore. It smells up the neighborhood,” Meyer said, summarizing the resident’s complaint. While some issues, like an unsecured swimming pool, were previously resolved, the property remains a source of frustration.

Police Chief Terry Lemming confirmed the village’s extensive but unsuccessful efforts to gain compliance from the homeowner. “I don’t know what else to do. I mean, I’ll be honest with you. I don’t know what else we could do,” Lemming told the board. “How many tickets you get? 25 tickets.”

Lemming explained that while the homeowner is cordial when approached by village staff, he consistently fails to follow through on promises to clean up the property. An adjudication court appearance resulted in the homeowner cleaning the property to meet a three-month deadline, but the problems soon returned.

“Adjudication is all about solving our problem, not finding people,” Lemming said. “But now recently, I think it’s back, right?”

“Oh yeah. There’s feces on the deck again,” Meyer confirmed.

Administrator Charity Mitchell noted she had contacted the Will County Health Department but was told they no longer conduct home inspections. The board discussed seeking further legal advice.

“I actually did talk with Tim [Kyper, the village attorney] and really like the only next step would be to try to take it to court, get an injunction, but I mean it’s a messy process to circuit court,” Mitchell said.

Board members expressed frustration that even a court order might only provide a temporary fix. “My fear is we go to circuit court and a judge gives them three months to clean it up again and we start over,” Lemming said.

Meyer told the board that while the village cannot legally enter the private property to remove the deck or clean the yard, officials are committed to finding a solution. “We’re talking to the attorney to see what we can do within what we’re able to do legally,” she said. “We’ve done everything we can and we will continue to do that.”