Lake County officials protesting foreclosure legislation

SPRINGFIELD — Lake County officials are protesting legislation that would change how the courts handle some foreclosure proceedings.

The plan would prevent judges from assigning local sheriff officials to handle the sale of a foreclosed home.

Instead, a bank could choose whether to sell the home through the sheriff's process or instead opt to have a private company do it.

Rep. Lou Lang, a Skokie Democrat sponsoring the plan, said that in most counties, judges already give banks that choice. But in Lake County, the judges often assign the sale to the local sheriff outright.

Lake County Administrator Barry Burton argues the decision should be left in judges' hands because they can decide what's best in each situation.

But Lang said the banks should be able to choose the private company, which he says can often complete the sale more quickly than the sheriff.

“That means somebody is living in that house more quickly,” Lang said. “The lawn is being mowed. The house is being cared for.”

Lang accused judges of siding with county sheriff's offices so county government can get the fees associated with the sales.

Burton says, though, the private companies get fees, too.

“That's the reason they're fighting so hard for this,” Burton said. “They're making a lot of money out of it.”

Lang says he wants to ask for a vote on the House floor as early as next week.

Lake County officials have been lobbying lawmakers, asking them to vote “no.”

Lake County Board chair David Stolman sent a letter to local lawmakers saying the courts are a neutral party that should be allowed to determine who gets to conduct a foreclosure sale.

“In Lake County, the sheriff has developed a mortgage foreclosure sale process focused on transparent, consistent and neutral service to all stakeholders,” Stolman wrote.