Crest Hill expands vacant‑property registration, hires HERA to run online registry

The Crest Hill City Council voted May 6 to expand the city’s vacant‑property registration ordinance and to hire HERA Property Register LLC to provide and manage an online registration platform for owners of vacant properties in mortgage default.

Community and Economic Development Director Ron Metzner said the ordinance amendment adds properties that are vacant but not currently subject to mortgage foreclosure to the registration requirements in Chapter 5.74 of the city code. Metzner said the expansion will give the city better ownership data to support code enforcement, and that the change is expected to generate a relatively small increase in revenue.

Council also approved a professional services agreement with HERA, which Metzner said will replace a previous vendor that went bankrupt. Under the contract, property owners with eligible properties will register via HERA’s platform; registration fees are expected to pay the vendor and help offset the city’s code enforcement costs for vacant properties.

The council approved the ordinance and the HERA contract by roll call (ordinance and resolution numbers recorded in the minutes). Metzner said the city will move quickly with HERA representatives to establish the platform and begin registering properties.