Vernon Hills home that was a source of odors declared uninhabitable
Vernon Hills officials are considering the next steps after declaring uninhabitable a single-family home that was the source of odor complaints.
Village building inspectors last week were allowed inside the home in the Stone Fence Farm subdivision as a condition of a ruling in June by a Lake County judge.
Details of what was found inside Lisa Sliwa's home on Brook Hill Lane were not immediately released by the village, although it was enough for inspectors on Friday to place an orange sticker on the front door declaring the structure unsafe for human occupancy or use.
The village took Sliwa to court seeking permission to enter the home after neighbor complaints regarding the odor of urine and feces.
One neighbor testified during the daylong hearing in Lake County circuit court that she could not use her backyard deck or open windows because of the foul odors.
Sliwa contended the village was trying to invade her privacy. In testimony, she contended she could not detect any odor.
But Judge Luis A. Berrones cited the consistency of the testimony from neighbors and others and gave her 45 days to abate the situation. She also was to have arranged an interior and exterior inspection to verify compliance by Aug. 11, Berrones ruled.
Village Manager Mike Allison acknowledged Monday that a no-occupancy order had been posted. He said the matter would be discussed Tuesday with the village board to determine “what direction do we want to go,” but did not provide further detail.
Sliwa's whereabouts were not known and her attorney was not available Monday.
Village officials are concerned because of past events at the home.
In 2004, animal control workers wearing protective clothing over several days removed an estimated 130 cats and other animals from the home.
It also was declared uninhabitable at that time but eventually was restored. No citations or charges were brought by the village in that case.