New Lenox Residents Plead for Help in Escalating Neighborhood Dispute

New Lenox Village Board Meeting | October 27, 2025

Article Summary: A New Lenox couple made an emotional plea to the Village Board, detailing a year-long dispute with a neighbor that they say involves vehicle-related harassment, blocked mail delivery, and threats, which recently escalated to their car being shot with a BB gun. The residents, Mike and Kelly Vancampen, claimed a lack of specific local ordinances has left police unable to resolve the ongoing issues.

Neighborhood Dispute Key Points:

• Residents of Andrea Drive described a neighbor intentionally blocking their mailbox and parking multiple, fully-lettered company vehicles on the residential street for extended periods.

• The situation has escalated to alleged retaliation, including having their car “boxed in” and later shot four times with a BB gun, a matter currently under police investigation.

• The couple argued that New Lenox lacks ordinances regarding blocking mailboxes, the number of commercial vehicles allowed in a residential area, and snow route enforcement, leaving them without recourse.

• Mayor Tim Baldermann promised to speak with the police chief and investigate potential new ordinances to address the gaps highlighted by the residents.

A New Lenox couple on Monday, October 27, 2025, brought an escalating and emotional neighborhood dispute to the Village Board, asking for help and stronger local ordinances to address what they described as a year of harassment from a neighbor.

Mike and Kelly Vancampen of Andrea Drive told the board they have been tormented by a neighbor who allegedly “weaponized” gaps in village code. Kelly Vancampen, fighting back tears while reading a prepared statement, said the issues include a neighbor intentionally parking vehicles to block their mailbox and stationing several commercial trucks on the street to prevent others from parking.

“After exhausting many resources, we cannot think of a better person to turn to than our mayor,” she said.

The Vancampens stated that police have been called multiple times after their mail could not be delivered, but officers said there was nothing they could do due to a lack of a specific village ordinance against blocking a mailbox. While blocking a mailbox is a federal issue, they said the post office directed them back to local police, creating a jurisdictional loop with no resolution.

The dispute has intensified beyond parking. The couple reported that after parking their own car on the street, it was “boxed in by several company vehicles as retaliation.” Shortly after, they said, “the car they blocked in was shot four times with the BB gun. This is under investigation with NLPD.”

The couple obtained a no-contact order against some of the individuals in the neighboring home, which was granted by a judge, but they said the neighbors have been avoiding being served by law enforcement.

Mike Vancampen questioned the village’s definition of commercial vehicles, noting that several fully lettered company trucks with B-plates are parked on their street for long periods. “I pay taxes there. It’s not a company parking lot,” he said, arguing that the village ordinance, which focuses on D-plates, fails to address the reality of commercial vehicle use in residential areas.

Mayor Tim Baldermann listened intently to the couple’s plea and promised action. “You clearly are expressing frustration from somebody who you feel is deliberately trying to make your life miserable,” he said. Baldermann stated he would speak with the police chief the following morning.

“We will do everything we can,” Baldermann assured them. “And I think we could certainly look at, although no one’s ever talked to me about someone parking in front of their mailbox before, but obviously if it’s deliberate, we can look at an ordinance for that. Absolutely.”

Baldermann also distinguished between a worker bringing a single company vehicle home and a resident parking multiple trucks on the street. “That’s an entirely different scenario,” he said. “That is, you know, using it as a company parking lot.”

He instructed the Vancampens to call his office the next day to follow up after his conversation with the police chief.