Politics & Government

Kostka Ordered to Take Action on Property

Cook County Judge Margarita Kulys Hoffman ruled that Warren Kostka must remove boards from windows and tarp from his roof in 30 days, and comply with village code violations in 60 days.

Cook County Circuit Court Judge Margarita Kulys Hoffman ordered Warren Kostka to remove boards and tarp from an addition on his home within the next 30 days, and to comply with violations identified by the Village of Palatine within 60 days. 

"This has been a long time and something needs to get done before winter," Hoffman said.

Village of Palatine Attorney Patrick Brankin asked for time limits to be set to require Kostka to make the repairs to his home, while his lawyer, Robert Egan stressed the process, and decisions Kostka must make shouldn't be rushed.

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"It's not an easy decision," Egan said. 

Egan was referring to the possibility of Kostka deciding to raze his home, or demolish a portion of it, where a lions share of the code violations exist. 

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Brankin called Harry Spila, director of community services for the Village of Palatine, to testify about whether dangers or hazards exists at the home in its current state.

At issue primarily were the boarded up windows and tarp on the roof covering areas where the siding is popping out. 

"In case of a fire, there would be a lack of ventilation, and village code requires an escape window in living areas," Spila said. 

Egan argued that dangers or hazards weren't contained in the complaint made in March, but Brankin came back stating those conditions only arose after the complaint was initially made. 

Hoffman said in her ruling that if the tarp and boards weren't removed and meet village code, the other option for Kostka would be demolition. 

"This is a slap in the face, the money that this will cost is very substantial. If I demolition the area [with the boards and tarp], that is 55-percent of my home," Kostka said. 

Another issue brought up in the hearing was regrarding orange fencing that Kostka put up to provide a barrier for his home from water inlet work planned by the village over the next month. 

"I didn't want my property becoming the work area for that," Kostka said. 

Village Manager Reid Ottesen, who attended the hearing, said through Brankin that the village would not require the fence to be taken down. 

Hoffman also gave Kostka 60 days to comply with code violations on the property. 

"If the village wants this problem to go away, they have to treat me like everyone else in Palatine who has had problems similar to this," Kostka said. 

The next hearing date in the case will be December 6. 


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