Delaney house in foreclosure to be auctioned

In the courthouse where former St. Clair County clerk Bob Delaney possessed political power, an auctioneer will soon sell the home he couldn’t afford.

JP Morgan Chase Bank, which won foreclosure judgment against Delaney and wife Janet in February, set a public auction for Thursday, May 22.

A sale notice that the bank posted on April 25 declares, “The property will not be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property.”

The Delaneys can redeem the property, at 48 Woodford Way in Collinsville, if they raise about $240,000 by May 14.

Washington Mutual Bank loaned them $202,000, in 2002.

In 2008, JP Morgan Chase bought Washington Mutual’s business.

The Delaneys fell behind in 2010, and the bank modified the loan at $218,034.93.

They fell behind again, and the bank filed a foreclosure action in 2012.

The bank dismissed the action but filed another last year.

JP Morgan Chase moved for judgment on Feb. 13, with the principal balance at $215,856.

The judgment added $20,680.70 for interest, property tax deficiencies, insurance, legal fees and other costs, raising the total to $236,536.70.

The judgment provides that at the auction, the bank will open the bidding.

The Delaneys also face judgment on a Commerce Bank debt approaching $100,000.

Commerce Bank obtained an order garnishing his wages as county clerk last June.

Delaney had served as county clerk – overseer of all elections in the county – from1999 until his resignation last June. He resigned following a report based on an investigation by an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission officer, who stated that Delaney drank on the job, made racial slurs and instilled fear in his employees.

He has denied wrongdoing.