Addison Township Prosecutor Kevin Cleary decided to dismiss a case for possible ordinance violations against township resident Sereal Gravlin after the two men reached a verbal agreement on the situation.
According to Cleary, he informed Gravlin on Dec. 18, before the bench trial scheduled for that day formerly took place, that he would dismiss the case if Mr. Gravlin agreed to remove one more item in his front yard that Cleary did not feel complied with Ordinance #87, which refers to having unlicensed vehicles, rubbish and trash littering the property.
“I informed him about one item I still felt was not in compliance,” Cleary stated.
“I told Mr. Gravlin at the courthouse on that day what I would have told him several weeks ago if I could have gotten in touch with him,” he added, “but contact is very slow and difficult since he does not have a telephone.”
The case began with a citizen complaint filed on May 8, 2003, about the condition of Mr. Gravlin’s yard. Township Supervisor Bob Koski said that after reviewing the property, officials sent Gravlin an ordinance citation, which included a court date, for possible violations of Ordinance #87.
Koski stated that Mr. Gravlin attended court on the date listed in the ordinance citation and requested a jury trial, but finally accepted a bench trial. The Dec. 18 trial was set, and although the date was kept, the bench trial was not held due to the prosecution’s dismissal.
Cleary was uncertain whether or not Gravlin had carried through with his portion of the verbal agreement and removed the item.
“I don’t live out that way, so I haven’t been able to personally check,” Cleary explained. “I’m assuming he’s a man of his word. The item wasn’t very much – it would have taken about 15 minutes to move.”
Gravlin said he had no comment when this reporter contacted him.