Cook County Land Bank Authority praised during first budget review

2016 Cook County Budget Hearings: Land Bank Authority

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

The Land Bank Authority (CCLBA) acquires, holds, and transfers interest in real property throughout Cook County to: promote redevelopment and reuse of vacant, abandoned, foreclosed or tax-delinquent properties; supports targeted efforts to stabilize neighborhoods; stimulates residential, commercial and industrial development--all in ways that are consistent with goals and priorities established by local government partners and other community stakeholders. As of 10-27-15 there were 60,000 parcels. It takes about 6 months for the processing of acquired land and reselling properties.

CCLBA was established via ordinance passed by the Cook County Board in 2013. Commissioner Bridget Gainer was instrumental in creating the CCLBA. Robert Rose, appointed March 2015, is the Executive Director. CCLBA has 8 employees. Both Commissioner Gainer and Robert Rose received praised for their work with CCLBA. The Commissioners also commended CCLBA for its work and stated that it should be a model for Violence Prevention. The Commissioners were impressed with CCLBA’s clear mission.

How does CCLBA work? CCLBA works independently, with, or by request of municipalities and other partners. CCLBA acquires properties, liens, and notes of deeds through purchase, donations, forfeiture and other transfers.  CCLBA extinguishes delinquent taxes and liens as permitted by law, and, in some cases, demolishes buildings, with the intent of preparing property to be put back on the market.

Robert Rose reported that CCLBA receives no taxpayer money but receives funding from grants, MacArthur Foundation, banks, Chicago Community Trust, IDA, Citibank Foundation, selling of properties and other sources.  In addition, CCLBA works with the South Suburban Land Bank.

Robert Rose discussed the Focus Communities Program that works with local community organizations to help neighborhoods identify vacant properties. They have done extensive work in communities such as Woodlawn, Englewood, Chicago Heights and Riverdale. 

There was some concern from Commissioners Richard Boykin and Peter Silvestri about the Foreclosure Mediation Program and whether this program will be cut from the Cook County Budget. Tanya Anthony, Budget Director, stated that would not happen. Robert Rose made it clear that they do not do mortgage mediation; the CCLBA deals with property after foreclosures.

--Submitted by Nancy Marcus

Cook County Board Meeting February 5, 2013

The meeting was called to order at 11:20 p.m. by President Toni Preckwinkle.  All commissioners with the exception of Schneider, Simms, and Steele were in attendance. 

The meeting began with tributes to Hadiya Pendleton made by each board member.  She was the young lady tragically gunned down in a Chicago’s Kenwood Park shortly after her attendance at the US presidential inauguration. The board met recently with ten mothers who have also suffered the shooting deaths of children. Discussion followed about Chicago’s increasingly damaged reputation for gun violence.  999 people have died in Chicago since the beginning of 2011 from gun violence.

Special Meeting Friday February 8th  

Appointments for the Cook County Land Bank Authority Board of Directors were deferred to a meeting to be held this Friday along with a proposed resolution about feral cat colony management.

Probation Monitoring Improvements 

Many questions were raised about proposed GPS contracts for monitoring juveniles and radio frequency monitoring for adults in the probation departments.  The hope was to find one company that could provide both services; unfortunately that could not be accomplished prior to the end of the current contract.  The Board has approved new contracts with Sentinel and 3M saving the county a great deal of money while also providing better services and security for the general population. 

Juvenile Probation and Detention
 
An agreement was approved with Heartland Alliance Inc., which in turn, will subcontract with community and faith based organizations to provide more pro social housing and mentoring for minors in detention.

Collection of debts 

An intergovernmental agreement has been approved by the State of Illinois Comptrollers office, Clerk of the Circuit Court, and State's Attorney to collect unpaid debt owed such as: traffic court debt, fines, and other outstanding financial obligations from Department of Revenue income taxes. Those owing governmental agencies will be notified 60 days prior to deductions being made in their tax return to allow time for disputes to be resolved.

Office Of The State's Attorney

A grant was accepted from the Illinois Criminal Justice System for Community Justice Centers. The goals of these centers are to address life concerns that have an impact on the local communities such as prostitution, graffiti and drugs.

New Business Items

All items were referred to committees other than Item #1, a request from David Orr to enter into a contract with Dominion Voting for the equipment necessary to hold February and April elections.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 1:00 p.m.

Submitted by Pat Lind