THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS | FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2008
Hold Off On YOTI Decision
By RICHARD MAYER
JOURNAL REPORTER
A hearing on alleged building code violations discovered during a March inspection of Ye Olde Town Inn restaurant and bar in Mt. Prospect was continued again yesterday (Thursday) until Thursday, May 29 by Administrative Law Judge David Eterno.
Yesterday's hearing was delayed due to a court hearing that is currently being held in the Chancery Division in Chicago, to determine if owner Tod Curtis can re-open his restaurant or if further repair work needs to be conducted.
Eterno approved the continuance due to both hearings relating to the same violations.
Ye Olde Town Inn has been closed for business since Friday, Apr. 11 after village staff filed a temporary restraining order (TRO) in Cook County Circuit Court. The village maintains that there were numerous building code violations with the structure.
The hearing in Chicago to determine whether Curtis can re-open his establishment was originally scheduled to continue today (Friday), but the Journal has learned it will be continued on Monday, due to the judge that's ruling over the matter being out of town. Village staff and Curtis' representatives were expected to meet yesterday afternoon to discuss whether a continuance will be issued or if proceedings will move forward on Monday. According to the village's inspection report, the following structures were considered to be "unsafe":
* The kitchen floor is sagging and collapsing. To prevent collapse, injury, and possible failure of surrounding structures, a registered design professional must evaluate the floor and specify means of repair.
* The sub-floor under the bar area is in disrepair from repeated exposure to water and leaks. At this time, the bar floor is declared an "unsafe structure."
* The rear staircase's vertical structure is no longer straight along with the supporting column base. In addition, the temporary brace is undersized. Village staff added that a registered design professional concurs that the stairway and guardrail assembly are "unsafe" and there is "immediate hazard."
* The second floor west porch roof is sagging and close to collapsing. The inspection report also states that throughout the property, numerous extension cords are in the open, some cords with "slices", some frayed, electrical boxes with splices and without proper connectors, double lugged wire taps in boxes, and electrical panels with breakers that are not designed for the panel.