Norwalk Village Board wrangles with residents over property lines

By KAREN PARKER | County Line Editor

Though Tuesday’s Norwalk Village Board meeting proceeded peacefully enough for quite some time, a dispute over property lines soon resulted in flaring tempers and raised voices.

At issue was the Lorraine Winchell property at the end of Highway 71, next to the Norwalk Public Library. The home has an interested buyer, but evidently there is some dispute over the lot lines, a common problem in small villages.

A GPS line shows the property line cutting through the house, but that is disputed by Madonna Johnson, Winchell’s daughter.

She told the board that when her parents had bought the home in in 1963, they had been apprised of the lines and always had taken care of the property based on that information.

To further complicate matters, the village library located next door is built on a platted street. Should the village abandon the street, under normal circumstances, the property owners would split the street and the Johnsons would own half a library.

Moreover, the area claimed by the Johnsons contains sidewalk and flowerbeds the potential buyer expected would be part of the property.

The Johnsons and board president Mike Wiedl sparred over the matter, with Wiedl pointing out it was the board’s duty to protect the village’s interests and not give away property despite what the Johnsons thought to be part of the lot.

As the discussion heated up, trustee Alex Karis proposed a solution that appeared acceptable to the Johnsons. After that motion failed, Wiedl proposed another, but that also went down to defeat, and Wiedl said the matter would remain unresolved.

“I just can’t believe you are discouraging this,” Johnson said, making reference to the buyer who would bring her young family to the village.

Other business

• A chemical solution will be used to treat the village wastewater with the hope of reducing its phosphorous content. If that works, the village may be able to do non-point-source trading in the watershed and avoid expensive sewer-plant improvements.

• Dylan Miller is the new village maintenance employee, replacing Mike Muehlenkamp.

• Horizon Management has indicated it will apply new siding to Norcrest Apartments.

• Jeff Gnewikow received an $8,500 block grant to repair the building at 111 E. Center St. The building will be used for his business, Bubba’s World.

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