Gunshots, Brush Fires, Errant Sheep Concern Homer Glen Neighbors

LEMONT, IL — After a recent brush fire that came close to neighboring homes, a group of Homer Glen residents are outraged over the lack of progress concerning properties they say are violating building and zoning, floodplain and other code violations.

The properties in question are near the border of Homer Glen and Lemont, and are in Lemont Township and unincorporated Cook County. The properties are located off of Archer Avenue, 131st Street, King Road and Hickory Road, and are nearby Long Run Creek.

For years, Homer Glen residents have reported issues including guns going off on the property, ongoing brush fires, sheep coming onto neighboring properties and dumping of dirt, oil and chemicals in the Long Run Creek. Residents say there are no homes on the property, but trailers and shipping containers.

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The property is in the 17th District of Cook County, which is represented by commissioner Sean Morrison.

According to an email from Morrison's office, multiple inspections have been done on the properties and the Cook County Sheriff's Office is involved and has met with property owners.

In November, the Cook County Building and Zoning department inspected some of the properties and wrote violations. Patch filed a FOIA request with the county which showed one of the properties at 15082 131st St. is listed as non-compliant. The document did not give a reason for non-compliance, and stated that the next scheduled inspection was March 15, although Patch filed the FOIA in April.

Earlier this month, Morrison's office told Patch that the commissioner has coordinated efforts to have multiple Cook County agencies on-site, and was working closely with Lemont Township Supervisor Michael Shackel.

Shackel told Patch that the county and the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago have written citations.

He said the next steps include bringing the properties into compliance and maintaining them to standards, and addressing issues so that they don't happen again.

However, residents remain unconvinced and upset over the lack of progress.

"It’s appalling to me that Cook County officials have ignored what’s been going on at these properties for years, despite numerous complaints from many people directly affected by these abuses," one resident told Patch.

Another resident took Will County and Homer Glen representatives to task.

" The actions in Cook County directly affect us in Will County," the resident said.

Residents continue to reach out to Cook and Will County officials for updates and news on further action.

"The structures and garbage on these properties are nothing less than third world level neglect, ignorance and indifference to the damage and destruction it’s causing to Long Run Creek, the surrounding neighborhood and everything downstream," a resident said. "It’s not about aesthetics, everything built on these properties is illegal."