Glen Ellyn orders COD to stop work, issues citations
As promised, Glen Ellyn officials issued stop work orders and citations to the College of DuPage on Thursday for the school's ongoing construction projects that they say don't comply with village codes.
COD spokesman Joe Moore said the village presented the orders and fines for an outdoor amphitheater project at the McAninch Arts Center and tennis courts project. He said paperwork was given to the college, but village officials indicated that they would begin to fine contractors Friday.
“We have informed our contractors we will cover any expenses they might incur as a result of being fined,” Moore said. “We fully intend to proceed with construction.”
Village Manager Mark Franz confirmed the village issued multiple citations and stop work orders Thursday afternoon.
In a Nov. 23 letter to COD President Robert Breuder, Franz had said the village would begin to enforce its ordinances on the 273-acre campus beginning Dec. 1. A ruling from DuPage County circuit Judge Terence Sheen last month said that the college isn't exempt from the village's jurisdiction, and suggested that the college may be subject to local building inspections, permits and approvals.
Franz requested that the college obtain building permits for work on the outdoor amphitheater, tennis courts, east portion of the Berg Instructional Center, extension of College Road and all parking lot projects.
Breuder had said he advised the college's contractors to keep working Thursday — even if village inspectors told them to stop. Officials want current outdoor construction projects complete by Dec. 15 — before winter weather hits.
“Every day we lose is critical to us,” he said Wednesday.
In the summer of 2010, the village issued stop work orders and citations when the college began installing about 3,900 square feet of signage that didn't comply with village codes.
On Wednesday, the college's board of trustees unanimously endorsed a resolution to seek deannexation of the COD campus from Glen Ellyn. The resolution stated that the village has placed “unnecessary demands for regulatory compliance” upon the college.
The village has maintained that it is the only regulatory agency responsible for overseeing new construction at COD.