Suburban woman fined for potty planters

A Lakemoor woman who refuses to remove front-yard flower planters made out of two toilets and a bathroom sink has been fined $25 by police.

Tina Asmus, who made national headlines last month when she refused to remove her recycled "art piece planters," said she will go to court to fight to keep the lawn ornaments.

"I think this is absolutely ridiculous," Asmus said today. "The village is in debt and they are suing me over a couple of potty planters. It's stupid."

Police Chief Rick Iverson said Asmus was issued the $25 noncompliance ticket Monday at her home in the 100 block of S. Highland Drive after the 30-day warning ticket expired.

Police and village officials said Asmus is violating a law stating items that are "no longer safely usable for the purpose for which it was manufactured" are prohibited. Iverson said Asmus has 10 days to comply with the ticket or will be given a court date.

"We have issued about 100 ordinance violations at this point, and the majority have complied with the violations," Iverson said. "We are in no way singling out Mrs. Asmus or anyone else. We are following the law."

The ordinance violations cited by police range from grass that is too long to junk in front yards. Two residents have been cited for using bathroom fixtures as flower pots. police said.

In addition to Asmus, police said they issued a 30-day warning to Heather and Tim Root on the east side of town for using a cast iron tub as a planter at their home in the 400 block of Santa Barbera Road. The Roots have 30 days from the June 16 warning date to remove the bathtub or be fined.

The Root's were unavailable for comment when contacted today.

Asmus said she has retained an attorney and plans a court fight, claiming the Lakemoor law is unconstitutional.

"The Roots can join me on the lawsuit," she said. "I'm not paying a thing or removing anything until the judge tells me I am in violation of the law."

Asmus said the fight started when some neighbors on Highland Drive were pushing her to remove the front yard "art piece planters" due to a separate neighbor dispute.

Mayor Todd Weihoffen said he wants the pieces removed, adding all he sees on the front lawn of Asmus' home are a couple of "old plumbing fixtures."

Each toilet planter costs about $100 to make, Asmus said, and holds an assortment of daisies, angel's breath, lilies and other flowers. She also said her yard has been maintained and neat for years.

"I should be allowed to put out whatever kind of planter I want as long as it's not obscene," she said. "And, this isn't obscene."

<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Stories</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=298800">Lakemoor woman's use of toilet for landscaping has neighbors, village up in arms <span class="date">[06/06/09]</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>