Island Lake trustee questions permits

An Island Lake trustee revealed Thursday night plans to review every building permit the village has issued going back at least as far as a year.

Trustee John Ponio, elected to the board in April, said he believes there were projects approved that didn't meet an ordinance requiring those seeking variances to submit evidence about the specifications, cost of improvement and "duration of use" of the plan.

"I believe that there are permits given where this information isn't provided," Ponio said. "We have ordinances for a reason."

Mayor Tom Hyde said reviewing all the permits sounded like a waste of time.

"You're going to look at every single permit in the last year?" Hyde asked incredulously. I don't think that's real productive... I guess you can do that."

Hyde said he hoped Ponio could speak with the village's building inspector, Frank DeSort, about any questions he had concerning a specific project.

Ponio responded that he was told that there was "pending litigation" against him by the inspector.

"Until that matter gets cleared up, I'm not going to speak to him," Ponio said.

Hyde responded there was no lawsuit of any kind between DeSort and Ponio.

"Our attorney said there was no pending litigation that he was aware of," Hyde said.

The board recently removed Ponio as liaison to the building committee after problems surfaced between the trustee and DeSort. Since then, Ponio has complained that questions he's had concerning building issues have gone unanswered.

"If I'm going to be treated like a schoolboy ... when I come to the teacher with a question, I expect an answer," Ponio said.

Trustee Deborah Herrmann said the board expected Ponio and DeSort to meet and resolve their issues in a professional manner.

"The two of you need to act like adults," she said.