Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Nuisance Abatement topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Will County approves county‑funded demolition at 116 Walden Road; lien and tax‑sale process discussed
Summary
Will County’s executive committee on June 12 approved a contract to demolish a dilapidated structure at 116 Walden Road and to record a lien to recover the county’s remediation costs if the property is subsequently sold.
Will County’s executive committee on June 12 approved a contract for a county‑funded demolition of a vacant, blighted structure at 116 Walden Road, a demolition staff member said after explaining the county’s process for addressing dilapidated properties.
Rebecca de Groot, Land Use staff, described the procedure: code enforcement refers a property to demolition court; if a judge declares the structure inhabitable and the owner cannot or will not make repairs, the county may fund the demolition to protect the surrounding neighborhood. "Once it's completed, we do go back with the state's attorney to put a lien on the property," de Groot said, explaining the county pursues repayment of demolition and related costs through a court‑recorded lien.
The committee asked whether the county assumes ownership of the parcel after demolition. De Groot said the county does not take ownership of the land when it funds demolition; the county’s authority in the case is limited to removing unsafe structures and placing a lien for recovery. If no owner or heir claims the property, de Groot said the parcel may eventually be addressed through the tax‑sale process; if a sale occurs the lien is part of the sale settlement and the county may recover its costs.
Members pressed for clarity about how lien proceeds from tax sales are recorded and where recovered funds appear in county finances; staff agreed to coordinate with finance and legal staff to provide details and follow up in committee. The committee also flagged an administrative detail: a contract form contained an obsolete clerk name; staff said the resolution approved the contract to be finalized and that the signed contract will be updated with current official names prior to execution.
The committee approved the demolition contract after staff said they have exhausted alternatives and the court decree authorized the county to proceed. De Groot said the lien can include demolition costs, asbestos abatement, board‑up costs and publication fees.
