Dolton administrator tells residents and businesses to report trash, lighting issues; village promises 48-hour response

Charles Walls, village administrator for Dolton, urged residents and business owners to report visible code violations and said the village will act quickly to address them. "We can't fix it if we don't see it," Walls said, asking community members to call the village office when they spot garbage, lighting problems or other issues.

Walls named his assistant, Nolita McClendon, as a staff contact and encouraged both businesses and residents to use the village office as the primary reporting point. He said the office will "do everything possible to address your issue," and added a specific operational commitment: "We will address the call within 48 hours, guaranteed."

Walls framed the outreach as both a public-safety and beautification effort. He warned that if problems persist at properties or in businesses the village will enforce applicable ordinances related to trash and lighting and may begin issuing tickets. "We will have to enforce the ordinances in terms of trash, in terms of, lighting in your business," he said, stressing enforcement is a last resort intended to protect the community.

Walls closed by appealing to local pride and neighborliness, urging people not to dismiss problems with fatalism. He said the village prefers prompt reports and voluntary compliance to enforcement: "Make sure you look out for yourselves. Make sure you look out for your neighbors."

The remarks were a public appeal and operational notice rather than a formal motion or ordinance change; no vote or new policy was recorded in the provided transcript. Residents seeking follow-up should contact the village office; the transcript did not include a phone number or specific office hours.