Update: July 3, 2009
Through the Freedom of Information Act, I requested a copy of the license from the South Holland Department of Planning, Development and Code Enforcement stating C & T Lawn Care could work in South Holland.
On July 3, 2009 I received correspondence from the Village of South Holland stating in part, "...We are in receipt of your request for a copy of the license issued to C & T Lawn Care by the Village of South Holland. Enclosed is that copy...." The copy enclosed states in part "C & T Lawn Care, LLC...is hereby granted contractors license #B with the Village of South Holland as a Lawn/Landscape Contractor for the term of one year commencing January 1, 2009 and expiring December 31, 2009..." This document is not signed by anyone.
On or about June 29, 2009 I talked the Office Manager of the South Holland Department of Planning, Development and Code Enforcement. She stated C & T Lawn Care had an "ongoing" license to operate in the Village of South Holland. If this is true, why does the correspondence I received designate a license for one year; and why did the South Holland Department of Planning, Development and Code Enforcement send me the document mentioned above (C & T's license) with a "current" date on it. As stated above, the document is not signed by anyone. The document received (C & T license) further states "...witness the hand of the clerk of the Village of South Holland and the Corporate seal thereof 12/18/08...."
There is no corporate seal or signature on this document (license). I do not have a copy of the license issued to C & T Lawn Care. I have a copy of a "standard" letter used for a license. This is how the Village of South Holland "protects" their own. We do not have to figure out who is "their" own. They practice it everyday in South Holland. "White" business as usual.
June 26, 2009
Mr. J. Wynsma
Village Administrator
16226 Wausau Avenue
South Holland, Illinois 60473
Mr. Wynsma:
I, Fred Nance Jr., report the following:
On June 26, 2009 I awoke to someone cutting branches from the tree in my backyard. Ms. Celeste Danko (white) of 17245 Evans Avenue, South Holland, Illinois employed Jim (white) who reported to me that he was the owner of C & T Lawn Care of 16715 Vincennes, South Holland, Illinois to trim a tree that is in the backyard of my property. Ms. Danko told me that she was going to cut my other tree because it was hanging over her property and putting shade on her property. Ms. Danko and Jim laughed. Jim of C & T Lawn Care told me that if I did not let him finish cutting the tree on my property, that I would have to pay for the cutting of the tree if he had to come back out. C & T Lawn Care did not have a permit, nor licensed to operate in the Village of South Holland, to cut trees in South Holland, notwithstanding a tree on my property.
On June 26, 2009 I called the South Holland Police Department (SHPD) to file a charge against Ms. Danko and C & T Lawn Care. Twenty minutes after my call, Officer Bultema (white) Star #103 arrived at my home. I explained the situation. Officer Bultema informed me that I could not file criminal charges against Ms. Danko and C & T Lawn Care. Officer Bultema informed me that my complaint was civil, and that Ms. Danko had a right to cut the limbs of my tree if they were hanging over her property. I asked Officer Bultema if he was going to fill out a report so that I can have proof that the police were called regarding this issue. Officer Bultema informed me that he was not going to file any type of report. I asked Officer Bultema to call his duty sergeant to the scene. When I started writing down Officer Bultema’s name from his badge, he arrogantly stated “my star number is 103.”
Officer Bultema informed me that Deputy Chief Stegenga (white) was the duty Sergeant today. Officer Bultema told me that he called Deputy Chief Stegenga and asked him to come to the scene. Deputy Chief Stegenga arrived and I explained the issues. Deputy Chief Stegenga informed me that Ms. Danko had a right to cut branches that were extended from my property over to her property. Deputy Chief Stegenga informed me that a “call for service” will be documented by SHPD and will be ready for pick up on or about Saturday, June 27, 2009.
On June 26, 2009 I called and went to the South Holland Department of Planning, Development and Code Enforcement. I talked to Ms. Janice (black). I explained the situation to Ms. Janice. I informed Ms. Janice that I wanted to file a written complaint. Ms. Janice told me I had to write a statement, and it would be my complaint. I asked Ms. Janice if C & T Lawn Care had a permit or license to cut trees or work in South Holland. Ms. Janice informed me that C & T Lawn Care did not have a license to operate in South Holland. I, Fred Nance Jr., immediately filed a request for public records under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act to examine and obtain a copy of any permit or license that C & T Lawn Care had to cut a tree on my property.
I asked Ms. Janice to have someone come to my home to see the tree that was cut. I left her office. Mr. Steve Vinke (white) and Mr. Mike Hampton (black) of the South Holland Department of Planning, Development and Code Enforcement arrived at my home. I explained the situation. Mr. Vinke and Mr. Hampton informed me that Ms. Danko had a right to cut branches from trees hanging over her property. Ms. Danko told Mr. Vinke and Mr. Hampton that her property was marked off by a representative of their office to describe her property’s boundaries. Mr. Hampton informed me that even though there is only a matter of inches as to the branches that were cut that were not hanging over the property of Ms. Danko, they would not consider these “inches” as a violation of a code.
I informed Mr. Vinke and Mr. Hampton that C & T Lawn Care did not have a permit to cut trees on my property or Ms. Danko’s property, nor did they have a license to operate in the Village of South Holland. Mr. Hampton looked at Mr. Vinke and asked did he know this company and did they have a license. Mr. Vinke told Mr. Hampton that he was aware of the company, and stated that he knows that the company had a license in the past. I informed Mr. Vinke and Mr. Hampton that C & T Lawn Care did not have a permit or license at the time they cut my tree. When I had my tree cut down in my backyard and work done on the exterior of my home I had to have a permit to have the work done.
Therefore, (1) I request a full investigation into this matter of C & T Lawn Care having a permit and/or license to operate in the Village of South Holland or any right to cut my tree without a permit and/or license; (2) whether Ms. Danko had a permit to cut trees on my property; (3) whether C & T Lawn Care will receive a citation for violating the codes of the Village of South Holland; (4) whether Ms. Danko would be cited; and (5) what relief do I have for the nefarious actions of Ms. Danko and C & T Lawn Care? C & T Lawn Care severely damaged the form and look of my tree in the way they cut it.
Respectfully submitted
Fred Nance Jr.
cc:
http://clickforjusticeandequality.blogspot.com/
Frank Knittle, Director of Planning, Development and Code Enforcement
South Holland Police Department Deputy Chief Stegenga
