Villa Park board adopts tougher nuisance rules, directs rodent-reduction initiative

The Village Board of Trustees on July 13 adopted amendments to the Village of Villa Park Municipal Code to strengthen how the village addresses nuisance trees, vegetation, rodent problems and garbage on private property, and directed staff to create a villagewide rodent-reduction program.

The changes, presented by Village Manager Mike Rivas, expand staff authority to pursue abatement on private property after giving owners notice and an opportunity to comply. "This ordinance will help with people that choose not to reply," Rivas said, adding staff is prepared to hand-deliver notices to dozens of properties once the ordinance is in effect.

Residents who spoke during public comment urged stronger enforcement. Jim Bergman, who lives on South Michigan Avenue, told trustees the rodent problem can be concealed within yards and asked if the code would allow inspections beyond street view. Trustee Jack Cozart said staff has been responsive to complaints and thanked them for on‑site outreach; Trustee Kumar urged staff to research tools such as drone mapping only after weighing cost and legal limits.

Attorney Ryan Morton cautioned the board that using drone footage to peer into private yards raises privacy and constitutional issues and may require probable cause or a warrant in many cases. "There are strict rules ... on how you can use that sort of technology to look into people's backyards," Morton said.

The board voted by roll call to approve the ordinance on its second reading. Trustees also voted to direct staff to codify a comprehensive public-health and neighborhood-preservation program that includes a village rodent-reduction initiative; that motion passed by roll call vote.

The ordinance gives staff additional options for remediation when property owners do not respond to notices and authorizes certain abatement steps consistent with due-process notice requirements. Officials said the village will continue to explore collaborative strategies, including working with adjacent property owners and private utility/right‑of‑way owners where appropriate.

Next steps: staff said it will begin preparing notices and the rodent-reduction program framework for review, and will return to the board with implementation details and any needed budget considerations.