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Residents struggle in aftermath of storm
Frustrated residents are left to fend for themselves following the June 19 storm.
By L. Nicole Trottie, Publisher
July 2, 2009
High winds and rain ripped through several suburban towns June 19 leaving
residents throughout the area waking up to find storm debris, down wires and
other damage.
A group of residents from the 200 block of 18th and 19th Avenue’s said they
have called the Maywood Village Public Works department repeatedly about
storm damage and to no avail.
Ricardo Robles of the 200 block of 19th Ave woke to find much chaos as trees
from a vacant boarded up residence next door were struck down, blocking the
alley between 18th and 19th Avenue’s behind Robles home and sprawled
across his front yard.
“I’ve called the village public works at least 20 times about the house, the debris
and the storm damage,” Robles said. “But nobody returns my phones calls.”
During Robles’ last call to the village a representative said someone from public
works would be out to clean up the debris but no one showed, according to
Robles who stood waiting outside.
Virdya Mabry, a senior and resident of the 200 block of 18th Avenue lives
across the alley from Robles. Mabry, who was out of town during the time the
storm hit can not believe the storm debris has not yet been cleaned up.
“It’s been two weeks and I can’t go down my alley,” Mabry said. “I spoke to
someone from the village who said I have to make a request… why do you think
I’m calling. Is that not a request,” Mabry added. “Why do I have to request they
do their job?”
When asked if she feels two weeks was ample enough time for the debris to be
cleared Mabry responded, “Of course.” “I have not been pleased with the
mayor. I don’t see anything going on around here,” she said. “I see people’s
alley’s being paved except ours that we can longer drive through,” she added.
The vacant home next door to Robles located at 223 19th Avenue has caused
much disturbance among the neighbors. The house, which is a stark contrast
to Robles’ white picket fence and manicured landscape, is not maintained and
is being used as a dumping ground, according to Robles and Mabry.
Robles said the overgrown trees have fallen on his property on several
occasions. Robles woke one morning in 2008 to find a tree limb on the second
story floor of his home. “The roof caved in,” he said. “I have four children and
luckily no one was hurt,” Robles added. Subsequently, after the second
complaint Robles made to his insurance company about the tree damage to his
home he was dropped from his policy.
More recently tires, old furniture and other garbage have accumulated in the
backyard of the vacant property and spread into the alley. Mabry said village
officials came to clean up the debris after about 70 phone calls and complaints
from neighbors but the next day another pile of garbage was dumped. “We don’
t know who owns the house or who is doing the dumping,” said neighbors who
tried to trace the title to the home. “We pay too much in taxes for this,” Robles
said.
John West, Public Works, Director said the issue of dumping has increased at
vacant properties. “People see a vacant home and use it as a dump site,”
West said. “We’ve been at the home on 19th Ave on occasion to clean up
debris and the next day more junk is dumped,” West added.
The recent storms that downed a tree from the vacant homes back yard hit and
broke a transponder that has been leaking pungent smelling oil for more than
two weeks.
“I called the village about twenty times about the transponder but they never
responded,” Robles said. “The entire block was without electricity for two
days,” he added. Robles called 911 last Monday who then called ComEd on
Robles’ behalf.
West said of the alley and down trees that he has instructed forestry foreman to
take a look at the damage. West apologized for any delay and explained that
calls made to his department are managed by a call center. “Friday I had at
least 30 messages escalated from the call center that I have to handle one by
one,” West said. “It’s hard to be in the field and at my desk to return calls at the
same time,” he added.
West said that his department is not responsible for damage to power lines and
transformers and said residents should contact ComEd.
In a call to ComEd from West Suburban Journal a representative did verify an
open work order on file for the down wire and leaking transformer in the alley
between Robles’ and Mabry’s home.
Following the June 19 storm, according to the ComEd representative, the power
company was flooded with complaints.
“During the June 19 storm mode we had over 50,000 residents without power,”
said the representative. “Our main goal was to restore power and thereafter
respond to down wire problems.”
“We are aware of the problem [at the 200 block of 19th Ave] and are schedule
to make repairs in the next couple of weeks,” the ComEd rep added”
“Unfortunately following the storms we were hit with a heat wave that caused fire
to transponders throughout Chicago, which has put us behind.”
In a follow up call to Robles from the Journal, he said the debris in the alley
from the vacant house next door was removed Friday but he is not sure by
whom. He added that unknown people are working inside the boarded up
home. However, the down tree that sits in Robles front yard remains.
West said of the alley that someone from his department probably cleaned up
the debris, but he could not verify it at the time of interview. “If it’s gone then
most likely we came to pick it up,” West said. “Clean up efforts are ongoing.”
Frustrated residents are left to fend for themselves following the June 19 storm.
By L. Nicole Trottie, Publisher
July 2, 2009
High winds and rain ripped through several suburban towns June 19 leaving
residents throughout the area waking up to find storm debris, down wires and
other damage.
A group of residents from the 200 block of 18th and 19th Avenue’s said they
have called the Maywood Village Public Works department repeatedly about
storm damage and to no avail.
Ricardo Robles of the 200 block of 19th Ave woke to find much chaos as trees
from a vacant boarded up residence next door were struck down, blocking the
alley between 18th and 19th Avenue’s behind Robles home and sprawled
across his front yard.
“I’ve called the village public works at least 20 times about the house, the debris
and the storm damage,” Robles said. “But nobody returns my phones calls.”
During Robles’ last call to the village a representative said someone from public
works would be out to clean up the debris but no one showed, according to
Robles who stood waiting outside.
Virdya Mabry, a senior and resident of the 200 block of 18th Avenue lives
across the alley from Robles. Mabry, who was out of town during the time the
storm hit can not believe the storm debris has not yet been cleaned up.
“It’s been two weeks and I can’t go down my alley,” Mabry said. “I spoke to
someone from the village who said I have to make a request… why do you think
I’m calling. Is that not a request,” Mabry added. “Why do I have to request they
do their job?”
When asked if she feels two weeks was ample enough time for the debris to be
cleared Mabry responded, “Of course.” “I have not been pleased with the
mayor. I don’t see anything going on around here,” she said. “I see people’s
alley’s being paved except ours that we can longer drive through,” she added.
The vacant home next door to Robles located at 223 19th Avenue has caused
much disturbance among the neighbors. The house, which is a stark contrast
to Robles’ white picket fence and manicured landscape, is not maintained and
is being used as a dumping ground, according to Robles and Mabry.
Robles said the overgrown trees have fallen on his property on several
occasions. Robles woke one morning in 2008 to find a tree limb on the second
story floor of his home. “The roof caved in,” he said. “I have four children and
luckily no one was hurt,” Robles added. Subsequently, after the second
complaint Robles made to his insurance company about the tree damage to his
home he was dropped from his policy.
More recently tires, old furniture and other garbage have accumulated in the
backyard of the vacant property and spread into the alley. Mabry said village
officials came to clean up the debris after about 70 phone calls and complaints
from neighbors but the next day another pile of garbage was dumped. “We don’
t know who owns the house or who is doing the dumping,” said neighbors who
tried to trace the title to the home. “We pay too much in taxes for this,” Robles
said.
John West, Public Works, Director said the issue of dumping has increased at
vacant properties. “People see a vacant home and use it as a dump site,”
West said. “We’ve been at the home on 19th Ave on occasion to clean up
debris and the next day more junk is dumped,” West added.
The recent storms that downed a tree from the vacant homes back yard hit and
broke a transponder that has been leaking pungent smelling oil for more than
two weeks.
“I called the village about twenty times about the transponder but they never
responded,” Robles said. “The entire block was without electricity for two
days,” he added. Robles called 911 last Monday who then called ComEd on
Robles’ behalf.
West said of the alley and down trees that he has instructed forestry foreman to
take a look at the damage. West apologized for any delay and explained that
calls made to his department are managed by a call center. “Friday I had at
least 30 messages escalated from the call center that I have to handle one by
one,” West said. “It’s hard to be in the field and at my desk to return calls at the
same time,” he added.
West said that his department is not responsible for damage to power lines and
transformers and said residents should contact ComEd.
In a call to ComEd from West Suburban Journal a representative did verify an
open work order on file for the down wire and leaking transformer in the alley
between Robles’ and Mabry’s home.
Following the June 19 storm, according to the ComEd representative, the power
company was flooded with complaints.
“During the June 19 storm mode we had over 50,000 residents without power,”
said the representative. “Our main goal was to restore power and thereafter
respond to down wire problems.”
“We are aware of the problem [at the 200 block of 19th Ave] and are schedule
to make repairs in the next couple of weeks,” the ComEd rep added”
“Unfortunately following the storms we were hit with a heat wave that caused fire
to transponders throughout Chicago, which has put us behind.”
In a follow up call to Robles from the Journal, he said the debris in the alley
from the vacant house next door was removed Friday but he is not sure by
whom. He added that unknown people are working inside the boarded up
home. However, the down tree that sits in Robles front yard remains.
West said of the alley that someone from his department probably cleaned up
the debris, but he could not verify it at the time of interview. “If it’s gone then
most likely we came to pick it up,” West said. “Clean up efforts are ongoing.”