Hideous, unattended lawns could lead to liens for Brookfield homeowners if the Village Board votes to enforce a state statute.

Assistant Village Manager Keith Sbiral said Illinois state statute allows non-home rule municipalities to lien properties that do not maintain their property with the maintenance code.

“We give people a warning and let them know, follow up with a ticket,” Sbiral said. “They would get fined and it was still an eye sore. Now we are putting a process together to hire a contractor to go mow it, and lien back the cost of the fines and mowing.”

Unsightly properties have been a problem, and the village cannot afford to mow every lawn in town.

“We don’t have the funds to maintain everyone’s properties for them,” Sbiral said. “There are a handful of properties every year, five or fewer.”

Even with only a few eyesores spotted around the village, a growing number of foreclosed homes is prompting the village to make sure to have a process and ordinance in place if lots are left unmanaged.

“It is not a huge number but for the neighbors who deal with it — it is an issue,” Sbiral said.
The Village Board will vote on the ordinance during Monday, June 22, during its regular board meeting at Village Hall, 8820 Brookfield Ave.