Lake in the Hills settles lawsuit against former stable tenant

Lake in the Hills has reached a settlement agreement in a lawsuit against a former tenant of the village's horse stable on Pyott Road.

Somerset Sport Horse Equestrian Center, Inc., which used to operate out of the village's horse stable at 1109 Pyott Road, breached the lease agreement and left before the end of the contract prompting the village to file a lawsuit, Village Administrator Gerald Sagona said.

The business was run by Tammy McConnell, who is named in the complaint.

"She opened up another facility in Kane County," Sagona said.

Somerset and McConnell have agreed to pay the village $11,000 to settle the suit within two weeks, per the agreement approved by the village board Thursday.

The stable, located on several acres, has been owned by the village since the early 2000s. The property was once owned by local businessman Gordon Larsen, an influential figure who helped shape the village's physical and civic landscape.

It is now under new management since the departure of Dynasty Farm in December due to financial issues prompting the operator to terminate the lease.

The new operator, Josiah and Samantha Kitchel of Rockford, will be sprucing up the stable starting this year. In the first year of the lease, the Kitchels have agreed to complete stall repairs and general facility cleanup started by Dynasty. Their rent is one-third of the boarding money collected, up to $4,600 a month, which is what the village collected on the property before it became vacant in February 2012.

The remaining two-thirds of boarding receipts would pay for utilities, repairs and horse care. Boarders would be charged $500 to $650 a month.

Planned improvements include creating more turnout space for horses, building an apartment for live-in barn help, and building a storage barn for tractor and equipment storage.