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Village attorney outlines enforcement options, warns of consequences of license revocation
Summary
Village counsel told the board that enforcement tools include civil penalties (up to $1,000 per day), the possibility of a suspension or revocation hearing and the challenge that terminating a license could harm residents by shutting down operations.
Village attorney Eric Larson described legal options for addressing Westwood Estates' ongoing code violations and cautioned trustees about unintended consequences of revocation.
Larson noted the village can pursue enforcement actions and assess civil penalties for code violations; "it is a penalty of 1000 dollars per day for violation of the code," he told the board. He also explained that a process exists to suspend or terminate a mobile-home license but warned that non-renewal or revocation could lead to the park losing its licensed status, potentially leaving residents without a licensed place to live.
Larson said enforcement typically aims to secure compliance rather than to punish, and he recommended targeting penalties and enforcement where appropriate while the board considered granting a conditional license subject to specific fixes. Trustees approved a conditional renewal but directed staff to monitor compliance and return in February with recommendations if conditions were not met.
Larson also flagged evidence requirements for seeking fines for past violations (the village may pursue up to two years of past violations but must prove each occurrence). The board balanced enforcement authority with concern for resident stability when adopting the Jan. 31 compliance timeline.
