Vernon Hills continues case against odiferous home
Vernon Hills officials have taken another step in a continuing legal effort to eliminate animal odors emanating from a home in the Stone Fence Farm subdivision.
A complaint filed earlier this week by village attorneys, describes the home on Brook Hill Lane as “beyond reasonable repair” and asks that demolition be included as a remedy to correct the situation.
The home, owned by Lisa Sliwa, has remained vacant since it was declared unsafe for human occupancy Aug. 12.
A lengthy list of code violations still exist and noxious odors have not been abated, as ordered by a Lake County circuit judge following a bench trial in June, the village contends.
“The village is seeking to have the home demolished and therefore must file a new complaint,” said Village Attorney Bob Kenny. “The village will seek to have both cases consolidated.”
The village in October 2010 started a case seeking court permission to enter the home after neighbor complaints of animal odors.
Sliwa was ordered to abate the problem, and the village was allowed to inspect the property.
The inspection cited several code violations and found the interior was virtually coated with animal urine and feces, including the heating and air conditioning floor registers.
The latest action names Sliwa, the mortgage lender and the Stone Fence Farm Neighborhood Association as defendants. According to the complaint, the association is an “interested party” in the action because the property is a member.
“It’s a whole new action. It has nothing to do with the first case,” Kenny said. Sliwa’s attorney, John W. Quinn of Grayslake, could not be reached Friday for comment.
The home is described in the complaint as “dangerous and uninhabitable” and, given the overall condition, it is “beyond reasonable repair.” The odor still exists, Kenny said.
The complaint outlines various requests including a court order to allow the village to “repair, enclose or clean up” the property and, if appropriate, orders to declare the property abandoned and for demolition.
“There are a lot of potential things the court can do short of demolition,” Kenny said.
The village’s request this week to consolidate the cases was deferred in circuit court. A status hearing was set for Oct. 21.