Skokie May Penalize Owner Of Carbon Monoxide Building

The owner of a Skokie apartment building involved in a frightening carbon monoxide incident early Thursday could be penalized by the village of Skokie, village sources said.

Twelve people, ages four to 94, were taken to hospitals early Thursday after the Skokie Fire Department responded to a call from one resident at the building, 8030 Keating, Skokie, who had been sickened by the odorless, invisible gas.

Earlier: Carbon Monoxide Fumes Send 12 To Area Hospitals

On Friday, Ann Tennes, a spokeswoman for the village, said after the incident, the building owner installed carbon monoxide detectors to conform to the village's ordinance requiring them in apartment units.

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However, she said Terry Oline, the village's property standards supervisor, and Nathan Kriska, the Building Division supervisor, had earlier said the village anticipates issuing citations to the building owner. 

The matter will go before an administrative hearing officer. Typically, this is an independent attorney hired by the village's corporation counsel. At the hearing, the administrative officer will determine whether to penalize the owner. The fine could be as high as $750, Tennes said. 

Skokie Deputy Fire Chief Barry Liss said Friday that all of the victims were expected to recover. He stressed the importance of following the village ordinance, which requires homeowners and apartment building owners to install carbon monoxide detectors.

Apartment building owners are obligated to install the detectors, and renters are required to replace batteries so that they are operational, he said. If a unit does not function or is missing, renters must notify the landlord so he or she can replace it.

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