Rental Property Rules Get Clarification

Governor signs SB3405 into law

I am happy to report that SB3406 has been signed by the Governor and is now the law.  The bill was an initiative of IRPOA and adds language to both the sanitation and building codes that requires the following also be included in a violation notice.

a citation to the specific code provision

or provisions alleged to have been violated, a description of

the circumstances present that constitute the alleged

violation

IRPOA proposed this change in the law because we had  reports  our members were receiving violation notices that were not specific and so were difficult to comply with.  The notices would include general statements like "Porch in Disrepair"  or "Plumbing not to Code".  Those types of notices seemed  more common when inspections are done in response to tenant conduct.   Also, many of our member groups operate under regulations that include annual inspections.  Those ordinances apply multiple code standards to rental properties.  It is very difficult to know where to look up a code when the city can impose regulations from nine different code books.   

With this change, you should now be able to reference a code book and read the code that is in violation.  You should also receive a description of what is wrong on your property so you know exactly what action to take to correct the violation.  We believe this will make dealing with code enforcement much easier.

State Senator Dave Syverson sponsored this bill in the Senate.  Representative Chapin Rose was our primary house sponsor and Representative Sidney Mathias was a house co-sponsor.  If you live in, or own property in, these legislators districts, please contact them and thank them for their support.  

To read the text of SB3406, now Public Act 097-1088 CLICK HERE

The Making of Mark in the Industry-Mark Roberts

Mark has always remembered his Central Illinois Roots

Mark Roberts was born in central Illinois and raised here.  He is also a renowned playwright, comic and television scribe. He is the creator and executive producer of the CBS series Mike & Molly and the author of several hit plays.

Roberts’ comedy career began at an early age when he worked as a stand-up comedian in Chicago while pursuing a career in acting and writing. After re-locating to Los Angeles, Roberts became a regular comedian on The Tonight Show and was a series regular on The Naked Truth with Tea Leoni. He was also a guest star on television series such as Seinfeld, Friends, The Practice, The Larry Sanders Show and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and starred in feature films Next of Kin and Bulletproof.

In theater, Roberts has written and produced several hit plays all of which are marked by his quick wit and comic sensibilities. Such productions include Welcome to Tolono, Whitey, Where the Great Ones Run, Parasite Drag, and Rantoul and Die. Several of his works have been picked up by the Dramatists Play Service, Inc. and published into acting editions.

After writing and starring in the one-act comedy, Couples Counseling Killed Katie, Robert’s comic spin on eight couples going through therapy turned the production into a sold out, cult phenomenon and showcased his talents to television executive Chuck Lorre who hired Roberts as a writer on Two and a Half Men. The show quickly became a ratings success and Roberts rose through the ranks to executive producer and head writer, most recently departing to create his own series, Mike & Molly.

Mike & Molly, which stars Melissa McCarthy and stand-up comedian Billy Gardell, focuses on the blossoming relationship between two people who meet at Overeaters Anonymous. Roberts’ comic-sensibilities made the series the most watched new comedy of Fall 2010 and earned McCarthy an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress.  

This summer, Roberts returned to the stage to star alongside Jessica Tuck in the Los Angeles revival of Couples Counseling Killed Katie. In addition, Rogue Machine and Shakespeare & Company will present renewed productions of his original plays Where The Great Ones Run and Parasite Drag in Los Angeles and Massachusetts, respectively.  To view the entire TV interview with Mark Roberts CLICK HERE

The Answer My Friend is Blowing in the Wind

MUTI is an INC 500 Fastest growing company

Derek Woods of Midwest Underground Technology, Inc. - MUTI as it is called shares the story of how his company was started here in the fair fields of Champaign County.

               

Founded in 2000 and starting with two employees, MUTI is headquartered in Champaign, IL and now employees over 140 people through 4 locations. In addition to wind energy, MUTI specializes in communications tower erection, multi-site maintenance, full site construction, and horizontal directional drilling, with extensive experience in the installation of tower foundations both mat and drilled shaft types, installation of access roads and site clearing, all types of excavation, tower erection, multi-site tower maintenance/inspection, installation of full grounding systems, and underground directional drilling. MUTI is also proud to be recognized by INC 5000 Fastest Growing Private companies over the past 5 years and is currently on track for continued success this year and beyond.

Mr. Woods has over 25 years of project management, construction & marketing/sales experience spanning a variety of industries including the pharmaceutical, medical devices, real estate development, & telecommunications fields.  In 2009, Mr. Woods joined the MUTI team & is currently Vice President of the Renewable Energy Division & is responsible for all aspects of the division’s development, operations & expansion within the renewable energy markets, with the main emphasis in the distributed wind energy segment.  To watch the full TV interview with Derek Woods CLICK HERE