Lena Board discusses code changes and short-term utility relief after tornado

At the May 11 regular meeting, a village property owner, Ashley Heilman, urged the Village of Lena to adopt an emergency process allowing insurance-approved repairs that currently are nonconforming under setback rules to be rebuilt more quickly after the recent tornado. Heilman, who does not live within the village limits but owns property there, said the Village ordinance requires structures damaged more than 60% of assessed value to be rebuilt to current code and obtain ZBA variances that can take at least 60 days. She cited Rockford and Chicago ordinances as alternative models and proposed that the village consider case-by-case reviews, require inspections paid by property owners (SafeBuilt contracted), and convene special meetings when warranted.