May 8, 2008 8:21 pm US/Central
Court In Session On The Lawn In Lake Forest
LAKE FOREST, Ill. (CBS) ―
A stretch of dirt some 6 feet wide and 150 feet long is at the center of a bitter flap. It used to be a concrete sidewalk running alongside the upscale home of the Kunz family. They tore it out last fall.
"It's important because it's my family," said homeowner John Kunz. "It's my house and it's where I live and it's my property."
The pathway is adjacent to the home's big picture window and the living room inside. That has caused problems.
"We've had various problems, but I'd prefer not to go in to those," Kunz said. He did add, however, that the family has had problems with people peering into the house.
Lake County Judge Mary Schostok on Thursday alongside the sidewalk that is no longer there. She and attorneys for the family and the city looked it over. The judge said she believes should be able to compromise.
But that may not be likely.
"This is a public improvement that has existed for almost 20 years," said Lake Forest City Manager Bob Kiely. "And it's an important interconnection for the neighborhood, for the kids to get safely from the neighborhood to the school, which is immediately on the other side of the Kunzs' property.
The city is demanding the Kunz family pay $5,000 to cover the cost of replacing the torn-up sidewalk. It is also levying thousands of dollars in fines until that happens.
The two sides will be back in court – indoors – Tuesday.
(CBS 2 and the Lake County News-Sun are news partners covering stories in the north suburbs. Send story tips to tips@cbs2chicago.com. (© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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