Trustees Say Property Condition More Than Neighbor Tiff

Sturtevant trustees are exploring legal options to address what they say is the potentially dangerous condition of properties owned by a former village official.

Allan Acker owns two lots at the corner of 98th Street and Valley Drive that neighbor George Mueller says are a safety hazard bringing down the property values in the neighborhood. Acker served as village president from 2001-2003.

Mueller asked trustees Tuesday during the continual committee meeting if they could address the state of disrepair of Acker's lots. He said there are animals living in the buildings there, including bats that fly around at night and possibly even a coyote.

"I've lived here for 14 years and those homes have been vacant for longer," he said. "I'm afraid to let my grandkids out to play or to let my dog out on her leash to enjoy the sunshine."

Mueller is also concerned about what the properties' state of disrepair is doing to neighborhood housing values.

"Something has to be done about these houses because home values could be going down," he stated.

Patch reached out to Acker Thursday, and he admitted the buildings on his lots are not in the best shape, but health issues this summer set him back from doing anything about them.

"I was planning on taking down the grey house, but I had my appendix out and then I was diagnosed with cancer so I'm on some restrictions," he said. "The green house is okay, though, and just needs a couple more things like finishing the furnace and the cabinets in the kitchen."

Acker accused Mueller of going to the board because of a misunderstanding that got bigger.

"We just don't see eye-to-eye because of a fire I had in my yard, with a permit, that he didn't like," Acker said. "He won't back down and he thinks he's always right. It was just some ash that blew on his porch, nothing more."

But Mueller tells a different story. 

"I asked Mr. Acker to put the fire out because hot ash was blowing onto my deck, and I was afraid of a fire starting," he said. "I'm a pretty quiet man, but when he laughed in my face about safety, I knew I had to talk to you all."

Trustee Gary Johnson, head of the Public Works and Capital Improvement said he has heard from other neighbors about Acker's property, but Mueller is the first to come to a meeting in a long while.

"Mr. Acker's intention was to repair and rent but he has always had an excuse of one kind or another for why the work doesn't get done," he said. "The condition of the buildings just get worse, and I have personally seen a raccoon climb out of the green house."

Going through the courts to try and get a raze order would be expensive and there are no guarantees the village would win, Johnson added.

"That would be a huge cost to the village and there are a lot of hoops to jump through to get to that," he said.

Johnson's committee agreed to ask Village Administrator/Clerk Mary Cole to begin researching options.

"We are asking Mary to research possible actions and depending on what she finds, that will determine how or if the village takes action," he stated.