Administrative hearing officer finds salon owner liable for illegal dumping, fines $25

Presiding officer Erica Thomas found Janette Laurenana liable for an illegal dumping violation on June 4, 2026, after reviewing a sworn report and video evidence. Laurenana, who identified herself as the owner of a hair salon, told the hearing that her husband had been repotting a plant and placed remaining soil around a tree stump; she said they were not informed the area belonged to a neighbor and that the soil was later cleaned up.

"Yes. My name is Janette," Laurenana said when her case was called, and she pleaded "not liable" before explaining the cleanup and presenting photos.

The court read portions of the sworn report, stating officers reviewed security video showing a subject dumping a bucket of dirt and leaving a pot by vehicles on the complainant's property. The responding report said the complainant had previously asked a neighboring business not to use the complainant's parking lot and had security video footage of the dumping. According to the report, Janette told officers her husband had dumped the dirt and that she had removed one pot but had forgotten the one in the parking area.

Thomas acknowledged the lack of prior warning and noted Laurenana's cleanup when deciding the penalty. "I am going to find you liable, ma'am, but I'm only going to find you a $25 fine," Thomas said, adding she would also assess the required $35 administrative fee under the ordinance.

The court ordered a written finding and provided the defendant with paperwork before moving to the next case. Laurenana may appeal the administrative decision to the Circuit Court of DuPage County within 35 days.