By Vanessa Lenz
SLN Staff
Following unanswered pleas to fix pending building code violations against a bank-owned property, the East Troy Village Board is planning to issue citations.
The board Monday night said it would instruct village building inspector Scott Johnson to review the blighted property at 2128 Clark St. for violations in an effort to clean up the site.
The foreclosure property is owned by Bank of America as of Feb. 26, according to the Walworth County Register of Deeds.
Renters are still occupying the home, according to the board.
If the issue is not taken care of, the village will fine Bank of America for each ordinance violation per day.
In a memo to the board, Village Administrator Judy Weter said various offices in the village and Walworth County have been contacted about the property.
One of the biggest complaints about the site is that it hasn’t been cleaned up since a fire destroyed a garage there last April.
Johnson has already sent two letters to the bank regarding code violations at the property.
“The inspection revealed that all or most of the debris from the garage that burned down is laying on the ground in the front yard and is a nuisance to neighboring properties,” he said.
The letter, dated Dec. 13, notified Bank of America that violations must be corrected within 30 days or legal action may commence.
A second letter was sent to the bank on Jan. 28.
An anonymous village resident called the property an eyesore in a letter to Bank of America that also detailed the poor condition of the property.
“Property values are dropping in the neighborhood due to the appearance of the property and the conduct of the people who reside in his duplex,” the citizen said in the letter, which listed numerous local health and safety law violations.
The resident alleged the second floor residents have been discarding food and beverages out of a second story window, throwing loud parties and fighting at the site.
The letter writer said he or she wanted to remain anonymous for fear of retribution from the residents of the duplex.
Trustee Fortune Renucci, who owns neighboring duplexes, said he’s had a ringside seat for the turn of events.
Renucci said he hasn’t been more vocal about his complaints due to his position on the board.
Village Police Chief Alan Boyes said the police department has responded to several complaints at the property. He said no action has been taken regarding the allegations made in the letter because his officers haven’t seen any of the alleged violations.
He said there has been a recent change in tenants at the home.
“If there is something immediately happening, I encourage residents to call,” Boyes said. “Anonymous letters two weeks later don’t help us.”
Boyes said if someone is willing to serve as a witness, police could also move forward with investigating the complaints.
He said the situation becomes difficult because there is certain leeway to what a person can do in his or her yard.
He said property owners are required to clean up garbage from their yard, but don’t necessarily have to do it immediately. Both Boyes and village attorney Linda Gray said the village could take action, however, if the property becomes a nuisance.
Boyes said the police department could deliver citations issued by the building inspector, but the board would need to determine whether the tenants or property owner should be cited.
After some discussion, the board determined it was the bank’s responsibility to maintain the property.
“The bank should be responsible for cleaning up the debris from the fire and that’s just the start of it,” Village President Bill Loesch said.
