Tough talk, more time

Owner gets another extension to work on Teut Rd. home

By Jennifer Eisenbart

Staff writer

How serious was Town of Burlington Supervisor Jeff Lang June 14?

Well, after years of working being delayed on the property at 246 S. Teut Road, he was completely serious in his suggestion that if the work wasn’t finished by July 8, the board should take action to raze the property.

“Define raze,” said fellow Town Board member Rich Isaacson.

“Destroy,” clarified Lang.

After some time to mull over the decision – and a statement Barb Bakshis from Fox River State Bank, which owns the mortgage – the board backed off the decision to raze the home, but did put a July 8 date for completion of the work that needs to done so the house can be certified for occupancy.

If owner Steve Tilistyak does not have the work finished by that date, the Town Board will use the $25,000 cash deposit Tilistyak put down to get the construction permit to finish the house.

The action came after yet another two-week period passed with the house not nearing completion. The building permit on the home was issued for November completion, and it looked like the project had a May 1 deadline before Tilistyak would lose the deposit.

He requested a number of extensions, though, pleading that he had run out of money and was reliant on volunteer help and waiting for other funds to finish the project.

“I had really hoped, with all this weather and that, he would be completed,” said Town Chairman Ralph Rice when discussion began on the topic at last week’s meeting.

“We have continually allowed more time,” he added.

In his latest request, Tilistyak listed work that had been completed – the garage roof, smoke detectors in the three bedrooms and the back yard being graded – and also the work left to be done.

Some of the work, like finishing the basement, had been scheduled, but Tilistyak also listed two problems that raised eyebrows among town staff – that siding wasn’t up because Tilistyak couldn’t decide on a color, and that the lawn couldn’t be watered because the sprinkler was plugged.

“The work is basically being done on weekends,” Rice explained. “I think the neighbors on Teut Road have been very patient and would like to see this work completed.”

According to discussions between Town Administrator Diane Baumeister and other town staff, it would take two weeks working every day to finish the work on the house needed for an occupancy permit.

“I think we’re at the end of our rope on this,” said Lang after making the motion to raze the property if the home wasn’t finished.

Cooler heads prevailed after Bakshis – who only has been involved recently when the bank acquired the mortgage – said the bank would sue to keep the town from leveling the home.

At that point, the board backed off its support of Lang’s motion, eventually voting it down 4-1 with Lang the lone supporter of the motion.

A new motion was raised to take over the work with the money in the cash deposit as of July 9.

Lang argued against it, saying the terms were to remove the house, not fix it. However, the board voted 4-1 in favor of the second motion – with Lang’s vote the only dissenting vote.

Near the end of the discussion, Tilistyak walked in, but declined to speak. After the motion had passed, Rice issued an ultimatum.

“Get that house done,” he said. “Don’t make us do anything.”