Code Violations By La Grange Elected Official: Village

LA GRANGE, IL – The village of La Grange is alleging code violations at a house owned by a member of La Grange's park board.

The house in the 10 block of Dover Avenue is owned by Stephen and Carla Carter.

In April, Stephen "Brad" Carter was elected to the Park District of La Grange board. Carla Carter, an attorney, ran unsuccessfully for the Village Board in the same election.

They did not return Patch's messages for comment.

In the village's documents, Carla Carter was referred to as Carla Buterman, her former name.

On Aug. 1, the village issued a notice of violation to the couple. If they fail to correct the issues, the village may take them to Cook County Circuit Court, according to the notice.

The village gave them an Aug. 16 deadline.

In the notice, the village said it had no record of a building permit for a stoop on the north side of the house that appears to have been altered from its original position.

The village also said a gas line appears to have been run to a gas grill on the home's north side, with no permit on file. No shutoff valve appeared to have been included in the installation, the village said.

La Grange also alleged that the Carters have a parking space in their front yard, even though such parking is not allowed under the code. The village is asking the Carters to remove the stone area for the parking spot.

In an Oct. 3 letter, the village attorney gave the couple a new deadline to correct the issues – Halloween. Otherwise, the village warned it would take additional action.

In response to a Patch inquiry, Village Manager Jack Knight said in an email last week, "A member of the Village staff is actively working with the homeowners to resolve the open code enforcement issues."