LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Deed scams

In response to calls I've received from Lake County residents, as recorder of deeds I would like to emphasize the importance of being cautious when contacted by companies claiming they have a great deal for you.

The true purpose of these contacts, whether by phone, mail or the Internet is to get you to spend your hard-earned money for their private interest. Rarely is it a good deal for the customer.

I would particularly like to single out current solicitations from Illinois Deed Providers Inc. Claiming to work out of Northbrook, this company is contacting Lake County homeowners in an effort to provide you with a certified copy of the deed to your home for a mere payment of $99 plus $4.50 for postage and handling.

There may come a time when you need to reference the deed to your home. As often happens, people misplace their deeds or in some instances, never actually received the original deed at the time they purchased their home.

The average deed is four pages or less, with a copy fee of $1 per page. For your protection, all requests for copies should be handled directly through the recorder's office. As you can see, the above-mentioned company is roughly making a $95 profit on every request they handle. Let's put them out of business! Please do not respond to this scam.

As the keeper of the property records for all of Lake County, I do not want to see anyone needlessly harmed by these deceptive offers. I would encourage anyone with a question, concern or need for a copy to contact my office directly at (847) 377-2575. We will be happy to send you whatever paperwork you need, at the statutory cost, without any handling or postage fees.

Mary Ellen Vanderventer

A real deal

I have been reading the comments about the County Board salaries and can't believe that we have people wanting good government and asking the elected officials to work for less money than a fresh college graduate with a degree in management where the average starting salary, with no experience, is over $41,000.

Cook County commissioners are paid double what our commissioners are paid and only do half the job. They also have forest preserve commissioners that also are paid over double.

The way we see it, we are getting a real deal. What some of you don't understand is Lake County is triple-A rated and has a balanced budget. Cook County commissioners are running their county into the ground for double the pay. If they made three times the pay maybe they could go broke faster?

The administration of the county is the same, large or small. They make the same hard decision as any other County in America. They are there to guide us into the next century.

I think it is time to get into the 21st century and start paying the going rate. That would be about $80,000 for each job. Yes, friends, we have a heck of a deal and 4 percent is peanuts as opposed to what they should earn.

Those that believe you should work for nothing, I can use your help in mowing my yard, cleaning my house and watching my children free of charge. Shame on the uninformed for begrudging a 4 percent pay raise to these elected officials.

Ursula Radka