Inspectors

Schiller Park ordinance: crude cover-up

Posted in Inspectors, Schiller Park on August 27th, 2009 by Sal C – 7 Comments

In an era of increasing government transparency, Schiller Park Ordinance 09-2732 may very well be one of the crudest political cover-ups in the village’s history.

By its own action to adopt the new ordinance on Aug. 25, it appears Schiller Park did not previously have legal authority to force citizens to comply with a non-existent law or local ordinance. Multi-family building owners who dutifully complied may have a legitimate legal claim against Schiller Park.

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Where were Schiller Park inspectors?

Posted in Inspectors, Schiller Park on August 24th, 2009 by Sal C – Be the first to comment

Anyone who rents or manages a multi-dwelling apartment building in Schiller Park knows about the Village’s rigorous annual, mandatory inspection program.

Most of us were dumbfounded when we awoke to the Chicago Tribune newspaper headline: Illinois pollution enforcement hampered by politics. The article, based on a Tribune investigation, revealed how carcinogenic solvents and caustic acids oozed out of rusty barrels packed haphazardly into a ramshackle building just two blocks away from a Schiller Park subdivision. read more »

Schiller Park views renters as second-rate citizens

Posted in Inspectors, Owners, Renters, Schiller Park on February 5th, 2009 by Sal C – 4 Comments

Renters have no voice over mandatory annual inspections of their apartments in Chicago west suburban Schiller Park. Renters there are viewed as second-rate citizens.

Schiller Park housing officials are pressing on apartment building owners to essentially waive renters’ rights to privacy by forcing them to open apartments doors, with or without the renter’s presence. Denying access to housing inspectors could lead to violations, fines and fees. read more »

Village of Schiller Park blows off renters’ privacy rights

Posted in Inspectors, Renters, Schiller Park on February 3rd, 2009 by Sal C – 7 Comments

Village of Schiller Park (Illinois) housing inspectors want to enter every single apartment in the village at least once a year to make sure safety items, such as smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, remain in place and are working properly.

Once inside, however, inspectors search for other obscure maintenance problems and can issue violations that can lead to fines and fees for re-inspections. In recent apartment inspections in Schiller Park, inspectors cited tenants for basic maintenance issues, such a soap scum on shower tiles or dirty cooking stoves. One tenant was told he could not use a futon as a sleeping bed in the living room. read more »