Community Corner

Kostka Requests for Palatine to Buy His Home

Former Palatine councilman Warren Kostka has threatened litigation against the village if they do not reverse their January 2012 decision to purchase his home due to years of flooding damage he says the village is responsible for.

The Village of Palatine received a letter in early May from former Village Councilman Warren Kostka, suggesting that the village buy his property which has been plagued by flooding issues for decades.

Village Manager Reid Ottesen confirmed that the letter was received, and said the village council has already ruled on the matter, formally deciding not to buy the property, located at 108 N. Forest Avenue, in January of 2012.

Kostka said despite that decision more than a year ago, the village is responsible for flooding in and around his home that has resulted in an ‘inverse condemnation’.

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Inverse Condemnation is, "the taking of property by a government agency which so greatly damages the use of a parcel of real property that it is the equivalent of condemnation of the entire property, according to Law.com.

“The village has taken my property, and my house is totally destroyed,” Kostka said. “I am asking a judge to force the village to do what they should have done, what they hinted they would do back in 2005, which is to buy my home.”

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Currently, the in regards to upkeep of Kostka’s home.

“We have not achieved full compliance from Mr. Kostka,” Ottesen said.

The case will be going to a full trial on May 28 at 9 a.m. at the Rolling Meadows Court House.

Though Ottesen acknowledges a letter has been received by the village from Kostka, he added there has been no formal notifications of a legal case against Palatine.

“I am asking them, because they have partially taken my property and destroyed the rest of it, to buy it, or initiate a condemnation proceeding,” Kostka said.  


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