Cedar Lake business offers residential maintenance, cleanup
By Sharon Porta Times Correspondent Sunday, April 26, 2009
While the housing crisis has hurt many businesses, Kleen Sweep is not among them. After many years of handling maintenance and cleanup of commercial businesses, Thomas Lesh has expanded his business to include residential cleanup."For years, we have taken care of businesses, handle graffiti, power wash and repaint. And when a business moves out, we go in and clean it up," said Paula Reno, the company's CFO. "So about six months ago, we just decided to partner with investors and banks that are foreclosing on properties to offer the service residentially. Investors buy the home as is and we go in and clean it up."The condition of the homes varies, but Reno said the previous owners always leave something behind."Nine out of 10 times there are things there that need removing," Lesh said. "We take a truck, load it up, bring it back here to sort and salvage."Because the company is not in the resale business, they have been making donations to families that have lost items, victims of floods and fire and the Salvation Army."We don't really want to sell the items. We make our money doing cleanup," Lesh said. "We have a huge building and thought that instead of throwing it away, we would find people who need it. We are getting all kinds of things that people need -- especially now in these hard times."Crews move into the homes and handle everything from painting and plumbing to general maintenance. Services include cleanup of the property, removing old furniture or garbage, pressure washing when needed and hiring professionals to repair dry wall, carpentry and landscaping."Some of the houses are in pretty bad shape and some are not," Lesh said. "But this end of the business has been pretty good."Kleen Sweep even has a sister company, Astro Realty, to handle the sale of the homes once they are in good shape."We still offer all of our commercial services, like parking lot sweeping, snow removal, lawn care and more, "Reno said. "And with this, we're really able to help people who are losing or who have lost their homes." Kleen Sweep Location: 13501 Morse St., Cedar Lake
Phone: (219) 374-4296
Owner: Thomas Lesh
When opened: 1985
Number of employees: 10
Type of business: Parking lot sweeping, snow removal, lawn care, residential and commercial clean-up
Web site: www.kleensweep2000.com
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Saturday, March 14, 2009
New Waterfront Restuarant, Cedar Lake
The Lighthouse Rest will open up on April 6. The Chamber is having a Big Gala on April 25 here, I cannot Wait
Monday, July 28, 2008
Great News for Cedar Lake
Cedar Lake restoration moving forward
StoryDiscussionFont Size: Default font size Larger font size BY MELANIE CSEPIGA
Times Correspondent | Tuesday, July 22, 2008 | 2 comment(s)
CEDAR LAKE | Dredging will be one component of a federal ecosystem restoration and enhancement project on Cedar Lake, but how much sediment will be removed from the lake remains to be seen.
After reviewing the recent U.S. Army Corps of Engineers draft document on the project and hearing Town Council concerns, consultant Kay Whitlock is expected to make some recommendations when the council meets at 7 p.m. July 29.
"It recommends a whole array of features to be combined, so it's not just dredging," Whitlock, of Christopher B. Burke Engineering, Crown Point, said of the draft document.
Using special software, the Corps mixed and matched elements of the project to achieve the highest environmental value at the best price, Whitlock said, noting that the results, for now, include planting vegetation on the shoreline and under water, fish management, treatment of contaminants and dredging.
Bob Gross, president of the Cedar Lake Enhancement Association, the grassroots group that started restoration planning, said he is happy the project is moving along.
"I know the council is reviewing it. With the land purchase we made, we want to get more sediment out than the Corps recommended," he said.
The town has purchased 114 acres to the south on which to place sediment removed from the town namesake lake. A portion of the land eventually would be capped and serve as a park, officials have said.
Whitlock said it was her impression July 15 when she presented the Corps' draft document to the town council that at least some members want to see a greater amount of sediment removed through dredging. That concern will be reflected in her recommendation, she said.
Whitlock, whose area of expertise lies with federally-funded projects, said developing a contract and cost-sharing is not as clear-cut as people might expect.
"Negotiating this kind of contract with the federal government is very sensitive," she said, adding that she has personally been impressed by the value the project holds for the region.
A detailed, public review of the project, funded through federal and state dollars garnered by Rep. Pete Visclosky, D-Ind., and state Sen. Sue Landske, R-Cedar Lake, is scheduled for the fall.
Gross said the Corps will present the project during a Nov. 7 fundraiser at the After Four Club in Cedar Lake.
StoryDiscussionFont Size: Default font size Larger font size BY MELANIE CSEPIGA
Times Correspondent | Tuesday, July 22, 2008 | 2 comment(s)
CEDAR LAKE | Dredging will be one component of a federal ecosystem restoration and enhancement project on Cedar Lake, but how much sediment will be removed from the lake remains to be seen.
After reviewing the recent U.S. Army Corps of Engineers draft document on the project and hearing Town Council concerns, consultant Kay Whitlock is expected to make some recommendations when the council meets at 7 p.m. July 29.
"It recommends a whole array of features to be combined, so it's not just dredging," Whitlock, of Christopher B. Burke Engineering, Crown Point, said of the draft document.
Using special software, the Corps mixed and matched elements of the project to achieve the highest environmental value at the best price, Whitlock said, noting that the results, for now, include planting vegetation on the shoreline and under water, fish management, treatment of contaminants and dredging.
Bob Gross, president of the Cedar Lake Enhancement Association, the grassroots group that started restoration planning, said he is happy the project is moving along.
"I know the council is reviewing it. With the land purchase we made, we want to get more sediment out than the Corps recommended," he said.
The town has purchased 114 acres to the south on which to place sediment removed from the town namesake lake. A portion of the land eventually would be capped and serve as a park, officials have said.
Whitlock said it was her impression July 15 when she presented the Corps' draft document to the town council that at least some members want to see a greater amount of sediment removed through dredging. That concern will be reflected in her recommendation, she said.
Whitlock, whose area of expertise lies with federally-funded projects, said developing a contract and cost-sharing is not as clear-cut as people might expect.
"Negotiating this kind of contract with the federal government is very sensitive," she said, adding that she has personally been impressed by the value the project holds for the region.
A detailed, public review of the project, funded through federal and state dollars garnered by Rep. Pete Visclosky, D-Ind., and state Sen. Sue Landske, R-Cedar Lake, is scheduled for the fall.
Gross said the Corps will present the project during a Nov. 7 fundraiser at the After Four Club in Cedar Lake.
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